Saka nets hat-trick as England score seven

Bukayo Saka is the youngest player to score an England hat-trick since Theo Walcott against Croatia in September 2008

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.

Gareth Southgate's side are well on course to qualify for the tournament in Germany next summer and, even though North Macedonia provided meagre opposition, England still demonstrated the dazzling array of attacking options they have at their disposal.

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.

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.

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North Macedonia

Squad number1Player nameDimitrievski

Squad number3Player nameAshkovski

Squad number13Player nameRistovski

Squad number14Player nameVelkovski

Squad number4Player nameZajkov

Squad number8Player nameAlioski

Squad number10Player nameBardhi

Squad number5Player nameAdemi

Squad number7Player nameElmas

Squad number9Player nameTrajkovski

Squad number23Player nameNestorovski

Squad number2Player nameBejtulai

Squad number6Player nameSerafimov

Squad number11Player nameAtanasov

Squad number16Player nameBabunski

Squad number20Player nameBabunski

Line-ups

England

Formation 4-3-3

1Pickford

2Walker5Stones6Maguire3Shaw

10Alexander-Arnold4Rice8Henderson

7Saka9Kane11Rashford

1Pickford2Walker5Stones6Maguire3Shaw10Alexander-Arnold4RiceBooked at 41minsSubstituted forPhillipsat 59'minutesBooked at 77mins8HendersonSubstituted forGallagherat 58'minutes7SakaSubstituted forFodenat 59'minutes9KaneSubstituted forWilsonat 74'minutes11RashfordSubstituted forGrealishat 58'minutes

Substitutes

12Trippier13Ramsdale14Guéhi15Phillips16Mings17Grealish18Maddison19Gallagher20Foden21Eze22Johnstone23Wilson

North Macedonia

Formation 5-3-2

1Dimitrievski

3Ashkovski13Ristovski14Velkovski4Zajkov8Alioski

10Bardhi5Ademi7Elmas

9Trajkovski23Nestorovski

1Dimitrievski3Ashkovski13RistovskiSubstituted forBejtulaiat 45'minutesBooked at 72mins14Velkovski4ZajkovSubstituted forSerafimovat 57'minutes8Alioski10BardhiSubstituted forBabunskiat 67'minutes5AdemiSubstituted forAtanasovat 58'minutes7Elmas9TrajkovskiSubstituted forBabunskiat 57'minutes23Nestorovski

Substitutes

2Bejtulai6Serafimov11Atanasov12Iliev15Manev16Babunski17Doriev18Elezi19Ristovski20Babunski21Dimoski22Shishkovski

Live Text

Match ends, England 7, North Macedonia 0.

Second Half ends, England 7, North Macedonia 0.

Attempt saved. Kalvin Phillips (England) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Maguire with a headed pass.

Corner, England. Conceded by Darko Velkovski.

Attempt blocked. Phil Foden (England) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Grealish.

Corner, England. Conceded by Nikola Serafimov.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Darko Velkovski (North Macedonia).

Kalvin Phillips (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by David Babunski (North Macedonia).

Foul by Conor Gallagher (England).

David Babunski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Kalvin Phillips (England) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Kalvin Phillips (England).

Ilija Nestorovski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.