England 7-0 North Macedonia
by Layth Yousif
at Old Trafford 

BUKAYO SAKA grabbed an impressive hat-trick as England swept aside their visitors from the Balkans, in front of 70,708 at Old Trafford on Monday evening.

Captain Harry Kane grabbed a brace, including a second half penalty as Gareth Southgate’s side proved to be simply too good for Blagoja Milevski’s team.

Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips were the other scorers as the Three Lions made it four wins from four in Group C, as qualification for next summer’s European Championship looms ever nearer.

On a day when the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston took centre stage during the day – the nation’s football team grabbed the headlines with a relentlessly powerful display on a sultry June evening in the north-west.

With the longest of the year only 48 hours away, perhaps it was no surprise we saw a cagey start as both sides weighed each other up in the summer sunshine. Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire, who made only 11 appearances at Old Trafford all season, headed wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner on 27 minutes.

Macedonia failed to heed the warning as Kane slotted home to make it 1-0 sixty seconds later. The opener came from Luke Shaw’s cross after the left-back was fed by Rashford’s intelligent ball, as the Spurs striker made it four in four qualifying matches.

England found their stride and continued to put the visitors under the cosh — pressure that was to barely lift until the end of a one-sided match. Moments later Saka’s searching ball driven into the box found Alexander-Arnold who squared into the middle. To Macedonia’s relief the ball came off Jordan Henderson’s hip and wide of keeper Stole Dimitrievski’s right-hand post.

The intensity was relentless as Saka emphatically fired past Macedonia keeper Dimitrievski’s near post and into the roof of the net to double England’s lead and make it 2-0 on 38 minutes.

Four minutes later Rashford could and should have made it three after a well-worked move saw the United attacker fire directly at the Macedonia keeper, who blocked.

The intelligent Rashford eventually slotted home after excellent England pressure. Kane won the ball for Henderson, who teed up the United forward, who made no mistake from close range for 3-0 before half time, as his home ground savoured hosting its first England international in 16 years.

With Saka and England intent on maintaining their ascendancy after the interval it was no surprise the Arsenal attacker joyously fired past the increasingly beleaguered Dimitrievski to make it 4-0 on 47 minutes.

Gunners star Saka — who, we must recall was turning out for Arsenal’s Academy side against Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers only five seasons ago — grabbed his treble on 52 minutes, to the delight of the Manchester crowd.

Kalvin Phillips made it 6-0 when slotting home from close range on 63 minutes prior to Kane firing home a spot-kick for 7-0 with 17 minutes remaining — as he scored for the sixth consecutive match for the third time in his England career.

However, the evening belonged to Saka – who, it’s incredible to think, given such consistently mature performances for club and country over the last few seasons, is still only 21.

“I will probably frame the match ball, but I’ll probably hold it in my arms for a few days first,” the popular Gunners youngster said after the match.

“It’s a special night, a big win and [to score] a first hat-trick is really special,” continued Saka, who had registered eight goals in 27 England appearances before Monday night's game.

“I don’t remember the last time I scored three, even at junior levels. It’s a decent scoring record but there is always room for improvement.”

“It’s been a really long season. I couldn’t have ended it in a better way. Now it’s time to relax and have a break.”