Saka nets hat-trick as England score seven

Bukayo Saka scored the first hat-trick of his career as England made it four wins out of four Euro 2024 qualifiers by thrashing North Macedonia at Old Trafford.

And at the heart of it all was Arsenal’s Saka who struck a superb treble before departing to a standing ovation with the game won.

England actually laboured in the early stages in the face of determined Macedonian defence but once captain Harry Kane scored his 57th international goal – turning in Luke Shaw’s cross at the far post after 29 minutes – the floodgates opened.

Saka added the second from Kyle Walker’s pass nine minutes later and Marcus Rashford scored third on the stroke of half-time after unselfish work by Jordan Henderson.

The highlight of this one-sided affair came two minutes after half-time when Saka controlled a perfect long pass by Trent Alexander-Arnold before sending a thunderous left-foot finish high past keeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Saka completed his landmark hat-trick after racing clear on to Kane’s pass, prompting Southgate to make a host of changes which allowed substitute Kalvin Phillips to get in the act with a simple tap-in to make it six.

Kane scored his second from the spot with 17 minutes left after John Stones had been fouled as England went on a goal rampage to record their biggest win since the 10-0 victory over San Marino in November 2021, and inflict North Macedonia’s heaviest defeat.

• Reaction to England’s thumping win over North Macedonia

Unstoppable England on course for Germany

England could not have done a more convincing job of plotting their route to Euro 2024 with maximum points and their most testing assignment out of the way with victory over Italy in Naples.

This is a group England have to qualify from – there would be a serious inquest if they did not – but the manner in which Southgate’s side have gone about their work is admirable and a sell-out Old Trafford crowd was given quite a show of attacking football.

England may face a familiar problem of not being fully put to the test until they face elite competition in the heat of a major tournament but this does not mean Southgate will not learn anything from qualifiers, even if the passage is comfortable against inferior opposition.

The attacking riches the manager can manipulate were on show among his goalscorers and England’s strength in depth was emphasised as Manchester City’s Champions League-winning duo of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden came off the bench while Real Madrid’s new teenage superstar Jude Bellingham was not present because of injury.

This must all be framed by the fact North Macedonia were nowhere their class but England could not have done a much better job of dismantling them.