England 3-0 Ivory Coast: Raheem Sterling scores as Three Lions cruise to win

England strolled to victory in their friendly against Ivory Coast at Wembley to complete a satisfactory international break for manager Gareth Southgate.

Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham produced an outstanding individual display as England followed up Saturday's win against Switzerland with a commanding performance.

The hosts were well in control and leading through Ollie Watkins' close-range finish, before former Tottenham defender Serge Aurier's dismissal - when he was shown a second yellow card for dissent - five minutes before the break.

Raheem Sterling, captain for the night and creator of Watkins' 30th-minute opener, made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, effectively ending the game as a contest. Defender Tyrone Mings' injury-time header completed the formalities.

Bellingham stakes his claim

Southgate made 10 changes from the side that came from behind to beat Switzerland 2-1, giving a start to Bellingham in the number 10 role.

And how the Dortmund player, who is not 19 until June, revelled in the responsibility with yet another astonishingly mature display that simply confirmed once more how comfortable he is at international level.

Bellingham has already proved his class and quality for England, as well as his club in both the Bundesliga and Champions League. The sky really is the limit for this richly-gifted youngster.

England untroubled by the Elephants

In the end, it was victory at a canter for England against an Ivory Coast side who delivered little in the way of attacking intent - and only produced several heavy challenges by way of resistance to the home side's superiority.

James Ward-Prowse received warm applause when he was substituted after almost scoring with a trademark long-range strike, but Manchester United captain Harry Maguire did not receive the same reception from the Wembley crowd.

England manager Southgate has kept faith with Maguire despite his abject form at club level but some of the home fans were less forgiving, with audible jeers greeting his name when it was read out before kick-off and also with his first touches.

Other than that, it was a mercifully quiet night for centre-back Maguire who, despite those Old Trafford struggles, has rarely let England down.

Harry Kane was restricted to a cameo as a second-half substitute so did not get the chance to claim a 50th England goal on his 69th appearance for his country.

It was the sort of confident performance Southgate will have wanted, with the added bonus of giving his squad even more experience. Crystal Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell was able to cruise through his first start following a debut against Switzerland.

England now wait to hear their World Cup group opponents at Friday's draw in Qatar, before they return to action against Hungary in Budapest for June's Uefa Nations League encounter.

The second half was very low-key once England had scored twice and the visitors went down to 10 men, but there was still plenty to please Southgate as he formulates and finalises his plans for when the World Cup action gets under way in November.

Player of the match

RiceDeclan Rice

Ivory Coast

Squad number11Player nameCornet

Squad number19Player namePépé

Squad number22Player nameHaller

Squad number21Player nameBailly

Squad number4Player nameSeri

Squad number8Player nameKessié

Squad number23Player nameBadra Sangaré

Squad number6Player nameBoly

Squad number14Player nameKamara

Squad number20Player nameAkouokou

Squad number12Player nameCoulibaly

Squad number15Player nameGradel

Squad number28Player nameBoli

Squad number5Player nameAgbadou

Squad number27Player nameDeli

Squad number3Player nameKonan

Squad number17Player nameAurier

Line-ups

England

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Pope

2White6Maguire5Mings3Mitchell

8Ward-Prowse4Rice

7Sterling10Bellingham11Grealish

9Watkins

Substitutes

Ivory Coast

Formation 4-2-3-1

23Sangaré

17Aurier21Bailly27Deli14Kamara

8Kessié4Seri

19Pépé15Gradel11Cornet

22Haller

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, England 3, Côte d'Ivoire 0.

Second Half ends, England 3, Côte d'Ivoire 0.

Goal! England 3, Côte d'Ivoire 0. Tyrone Mings (England) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Phil Foden with a cross following a corner.

Substitution, Côte d'Ivoire. Paul Akouokou replaces Jean Michaël Seri.

Corner, England. Conceded by Emmanuel Agbadou.

Attempt blocked. Emile Smith Rowe (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters.

Phil Foden (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Franck Kessié (Côte d'Ivoire).

Foul by Conor Gallagher (England).

Franck Kessié (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution, Côte d'Ivoire. Yohan Boli replaces Sébastien Haller.

Attempt missed. Phil Foden (England) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tyrone Mings.

Substitution, England. Conor Gallagher replaces James Ward-Prowse.

Jude Bellingham (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Fousseny Coulibaly (Côte d'Ivoire).

Foul by Tyrone Mings (England).

Sébastien Haller (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Simon Deli (Côte d'Ivoire) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jean Michaël Seri with a cross following a set piece situation.

Foul by Luke Shaw (England).

Hassane Kamara (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick on the right wing.

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