Harry Kane scored 79 seconds into his England debut and Wayne Rooney moved a step closer to Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goalscoring record in a routine Euro 2016 dismissal of Lithuania at Wembley.
Kane – with 29 goals for Tottenham this season – emerged as a substitute after 70 minutes with England already on the way to a fifth win from five qualifiers with goals from Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Raheem Sterling.
The stage was set for the 21-year-old but even the man with the Midas touch in front of goal this season would have struggled to believe he would score with his third touch as a full England international, heading in Sterling’s cross at the far post.
It was the final flourish on an England win that was little more than a formality in a group that surely provides the safest of passages to France next summer.
Rooney got the night off to the perfect start when he headed his 47th goal for England after only six minutes, leaving him just two adrift of Charlton’s tally ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Italy in Turin.
England’s captain also hit the woodwork twice before man of the match Welbeck, who deservedly kept his place despite public clamour for Kane’s inclusion, headed a deflected second just before half-time.
Sterling was rewarded for a lively performance with his first England goal – but it was Kane who did what he has been doing all season and stole the show with a predator’s effort as part of a confident cameo.
Hodgson refused to rush Kane into his England starting line-up despite his golden run of form but he will be delighted that he has demonstrated, albeit briefly and against desperately poor opposition, that he is an added weapon in his attacking armoury.
In the wider context of Euro 2016, Lithuania provided further proof of how England have been handed a gloriously favourable group in which to continue their rehabilitation following the World Cup debacle in Brazil. There could never be any excuses for not reaching France.
Rooney started the night with Charlton’s record firmly in his sights – and could have equalled it by the interval.
He was put through by Fabian Delph in the third minute but slid a low shot against the post with Lithuania keeper Giedrius Arlauskis beaten.
Rooney was not to be kept at bay for long, and he took another stride towards that landmark three minutes later with a simple header from six yards after Arlauskis blocked Welbeck’s shot.
A looping header against the woodwork and a low free-kick clutched by Arlauskis continued Rooney’s efforts – but it was Welbeck who ended any fanciful suggestion that this might develop into a serious contest with England’s second from a deflected header right on half-time.
It was little more than a procession and Arlauskis distinguished himself again with a superb save from Delph’s volley and a Welbeck snapshot as England resumed the siege.
The gallant keeper was powerless to stop England adding a third just before the hour, Sterling’s simple tap-in the perfect conclusion to Rooney’s inviting cross.
The moment Kane, and indeed most of Wembley, had been waiting for arrived with 20 minutes left as he was introduced, along with Everton’s Ross Barkley, for Rooney and Jordan Henderson.
And in keeping with the rest of his season, he penned the final chapter of this Wembley storyline on a dream England debut.
Wayne Rooney has now scored 19 goals since Roy Hodgson took charge of the England team in 2012
Rooney became the first England player since June 2010 to hit the woodwork twice in the same match
Danny Welbeck has scored six goals in five Euro 2016 qualification matches for England
Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling’s second-half goal was his first for England
England have only conceded two goals in seven matches since the 2014 World Cup
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Source: BBC Sport
Harry Kane scored 79 seconds into his England debut and Wayne Rooney moved a step closer to Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goalscoring record in a routine Euro 2016 dismissal of Lithuania at Wembley.
Kane – with 29 goals for Tottenham this season – emerged as a substitute after 70 minutes with England already on the way to a fifth win from five qualifiers with goals from Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Raheem Sterling.
The stage was set for the 21-year-old but even the man with the Midas touch in front of goal this season would have struggled to believe he would score with his third touch as a full England international, heading in Sterling’s cross at the far post.
It was the final flourish on an England win that was little more than a formality in a group that surely provides the safest of passages to France next summer.
Rooney got the night off to the perfect start when he headed his 47th goal for England after only six minutes, leaving him just two adrift of Charlton’s tally ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Italy in Turin.
England’s captain also hit the woodwork twice before man of the match Welbeck, who deservedly kept his place despite public clamour for Kane’s inclusion, headed a deflected second just before half-time.
Sterling was rewarded for a lively performance with his first England goal – but it was Kane who did what he has been doing all season and stole the show with a predator’s effort as part of a confident cameo.
Hodgson refused to rush Kane into his England starting line-up despite his golden run of form but he will be delighted that he has demonstrated, albeit briefly and against desperately poor opposition, that he is an added weapon in his attacking armoury.
In the wider context of Euro 2016, Lithuania provided further proof of how England have been handed a gloriously favourable group in which to continue their rehabilitation following the World Cup debacle in Brazil. There could never be any excuses for not reaching France.
Rooney started the night with Charlton’s record firmly in his sights – and could have equalled it by the interval.
He was put through by Fabian Delph in the third minute but slid a low shot against the post with Lithuania keeper Giedrius Arlauskis beaten.
Rooney was not to be kept at bay for long, and he took another stride towards that landmark three minutes later with a simple header from six yards after Arlauskis blocked Welbeck’s shot.
A looping header against the woodwork and a low free-kick clutched by Arlauskis continued Rooney’s efforts – but it was Welbeck who ended any fanciful suggestion that this might develop into a serious contest with England’s second from a deflected header right on half-time.
It was little more than a procession and Arlauskis distinguished himself again with a superb save from Delph’s volley and a Welbeck snapshot as England resumed the siege.
The gallant keeper was powerless to stop England adding a third just before the hour, Sterling’s simple tap-in the perfect conclusion to Rooney’s inviting cross.
The moment Kane, and indeed most of Wembley, had been waiting for arrived with 20 minutes left as he was introduced, along with Everton’s Ross Barkley, for Rooney and Jordan Henderson.
And in keeping with the rest of his season, he penned the final chapter of this Wembley storyline on a dream England debut.
Wayne Rooney has now scored 19 goals since Roy Hodgson took charge of the England team in 2012
Rooney became the first England player since June 2010 to hit the woodwork twice in the same match
Danny Welbeck has scored six goals in five Euro 2016 qualification matches for England
Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling’s second-half goal was his first for England
England have only conceded two goals in seven matches since the 2014 World Cup
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Source: BBC Sport