England secured a comfortable 5-0 victory over San Marino at Wembley in the European section of World Cup qualifying last night.

The home side didn’t score until the 35^th minute, but then went on to add four more goals to Wayne Rooney’s opener from the penalty spot.

Wayne Rooney got a second goal which was sandwiched in between a brace from club teammate Danny Welbeck. Arsenal youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain completed the rout in the 77^th minute, with his first goal for England.

Roy Hodgson’s men now face a tough trip to Poland on Tuesday night in their next qualifier and are sure to be given a stiffer test than in this encounter.

Italy picked up three vital points in their quest for qualification with a 3-1 defeat of Armenia. The Azzurri took the lead through a penalty from Andrea Pirlo, before highly-rated Shakhtar midfielder Henrikh Mkhitryan equalised for the hosts.

However second half goals from Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Osvaldo were enough to clinch the victory and three points for Cesare Prandelli’s team. The victory leaves Italy top of Group B.

Elsewhere, Germany thrashed the Republic of Ireland 6-1 in Dublin. Germany went in at the break two goals up thanks to a brace from Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus. It got much worse for the home side in the second half as Germany ran riot.

Second half substitute Toni Kroos scored a brace, with Mesut Ozil and Miroslav Klose also getting on the score sheet to add to the Irish misery. Ireland did get a goal in injury-time through Andy Keogh, but it was scant consolation on an awful night for Giovanni Trapattoni’s men.

The result leaves Germany top of Group C. The Germans usually make light work of qualifying for major tournaments and this time around it looks to be no different.

Should England have scored more than five goals against San Marino?