Declan Rice started as England swept North Macedonia aside to make it four wins from their first four UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers on Monday evening.
A huge 7-0 win at Old Trafford was set in motion by Harry Kane’s opener, a goal which saw the Tottenham Hotspur forward neatly finish a move started by a delightful cross-field pass from Rice.
Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford were also on the scoresheet in the first half, before Saka completed his hat-trick and Kalvin Phillips and Kane added further goals after the break to secure a straightforward win in Rice’s 43rd senior appearance for the Three Lions.
Rice featured for just under an hour before he was replaced by Phillips. England sit top of Group C as it stands and are already well on the way to qualify for next summer’s competition..
— England (@England) June 19, 2023
Elsewhere, Alphonse Areola was an unused substitute as France beat ten-man Greece 1-0 in a UEFA 2024 Euro qualifier at the Stade de France.
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of the game with Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos sent off for the visitors on the hour.
France remain top of Group B, six points clear of Greece in second, and nine points ahead of the Netherlands in third.
Callum Marshall was also an unused substitute as Northern Ireland fell to a 1-0 defeat by Kazakhstan.
U18s striker Marshall, who made his senior debut against Denmark last time out, did not get the chance for a home debut, as defeat at Windsor Park leaves Michael O'Neill’s hunt for UEFA Euro 2024 qualification hanging by a thread.
With four games played, Northern Ireland sit six points behind Group H leaders Finland.
On Sunday evening, Saïd Benrahma was involved as Algeria beat Uganda 2-1 in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Japoma Stadium.
The skilful winger played for the final 20 minutes, replacing Mohamed El Amine Amoura, who had earlier struck both of Algeria’s goals.