England U21s record biggest-ever victory at Shrewsbury Town - analysis and pictures
Shrewsbury Town's ground came alive with cries of "We want 10" as England Under-21s recorded their biggest-ever win.
Last night's goal feast topped the 8-1 victory over Finland in 1977 and a 7-0 drubbing of Azerbajian four years ago, in front of the second-biggest crowd ever at the Greenhous Meadow.
For the hosting club, only a rare visit of Wolves in League One this season beats it for attendance figures as families poured into the ground to support their country.
The atmosphere was extraordinary as 9,264 spectators witnessed Gareth Southgate's Young Lions make a mockery of their visitors. San Marino, granted, were awful – but England were brutally clinical.
Michael Keane opened the floodgates before quickfire goals from Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings and a belter of a free-kick from James Ward-Prowse. Thomas Ince made it 5-0 at half-time.
Second goals for Ince and Sterling came soon after the break before strikes from Carl Jenkinson and Will Hughes as England made light work of their UEFA European Championship qualifier.
England swarmed all over San Marino from the off and Ings had already placed a shot wide of the post in the box on 10 minutes, before the goal came less than 120 seconds later.
Ince prodded a shot goalwards that goalkeeper Andrea Manzaroli managed to hold.
But moments later, England forced a corner which Ince flung in for Keane to stab home the opener.
Two minutes later it was 2-0; San Marino defender Mirco Ciambotta got himself in a muddle trying to clear from Sterling and the striker robbed him and beat Manzaroli to slot into the net.
With 17 minutes on the clock, England went three up when Ince's cross was touched in by Ings before the best goal of the night came from Ward-Prowse after a further six minutes.
The Southampton midfielder, who skippered the side in the second half when under-worked goalkeeper Jack Butland was replaced by Jonathan Bond, hit one to remember.
He stepped up to a free-kick on the edge of the D and curled it round the defensive wall and past the dive of Manzaroli at his near corner.
It was 5-0 by the break after Ince tapped in two minutes before half-time, the chance presented on a plate after Ings had cut to the byline and squared the ball across goal.
The second period was all of three minutes old when the goal glut continued, Jesse Lingard's mishit shot presenting another tap-in, this time for Ings who beat Carl Jenkinson to the loose ball.
On 59 minutes, England were seven up as Ince's ball over the top fell for Sterling to apply a calm finish.
Jenkinson got the goal he was looking for two minutes later when he slotted the ball home on the right hand side.
Pounced
The strike prevented any chaff from Ings – the two are room-mates when on international duty.
Jenkinson's goal matched the record number scored in an England under-21 game, but the scoreboard ticked over again on 78 minutes when Hughes pounced on a free ball in the box and drilled it low into the net. It could have been double figures for England – Jack Robinson's shot struck the post and bounced away to safety, while Lingard fired wide in stoppage time.
So ended a special night for Shrewsbury Town and for England under-21 football.
It's one neither party will forget in too much of a hurry.
England Under-21: Butland (Bond 46), Jenkinson, Stones (Dier 62), Keane, Robinson, Ince (Bamford 65), Ward-Prowse, Hughes, Sterling, Ings, Lingard. Subs not used: Shaw, Chalobah, Zaha, Morrison.
San Marino Under-21: Manzaroli (Berardi 82), Proli, Brolli, Ciambotta, Maiani, Liverani (Cesarini 69), Biordi, Colombini, Battistini, Bernardi, Golinucci (Faetanini 69). Subs not used: Angelini, Biazan, Zavoli, Zoinzini.
Referee: Gunnar Jarl Jonsson (Iceland)
Attendance: 9,264.
