After a 5-0 win over Albania on Friday England are within touching distance of next year's World Cup. A point against San Marino will guarantee them passage to Qatar. A matchup between the fifth best team in the world and the 210th, according to FIFA's world rankings, ought to be a cakewalk for Gareth Southgate's side.
Indeed in their previous seven meetings with San Marino England have scored 42 times, though the most famous goal in this game might be Davide Gualtieri's for the minnows eight seconds into a 1993 World Cup qualifier. This should surely be a cake walk for the Three Lions, here is how you can watch the game and what you need to know:
Viewing information
- Date: Monday, Nov. 15 | Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: San Marino Stadium -- Seravalle, San Marino
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: San Marino +6600; Draw +2800; England -50000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Storylines
England are expected to rotate significantly for a match where only a point is required from an opponent who have been waiting 20 years to draw, let alone win, in World Cup qualifying. Emile Smith Rowe is set to make his first start as an international having come off the bench against Albania. His Arsenal team mate Aaron Ramsdale is expected to be rewarded for his imperious club form with the gloves in Seravalle while Crystal Palace's Conor Gallagher will hope to feature in some capacity after being called up on Sunday.
These new entrants take the place of Jordan Henderson, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw. All five did not travel to Rimini but captain Harry Kane did. He will be looking to make a further dent in the nine goals that separate him from England's all-time record scorer Wayne Rooney.
Prediction
Games like this one tend to proceed in a specific fashion, expect England to take their time grinding down San Marino before a flurry of late goals. PICK: England 5 San Marino 0