Sterling destroys Czech Republic with hat-trick as England romp home in opening Euro 2020 qualifier
Manchester City winger was simply unplayable as he transferred his mesmerising Premier League form to Wembley
THEY have gone from back three to front three.
England, opening their Euro 2020 campaign with a thumping Wembley win, are all about the forward line now.
Gareth Southgate’s cautious World Cup approach, when he played three central defenders, is history.
He is looking to the future with the most exciting attack line-ups in international football.
There was simply no stopping Raheem Sterling, captain Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho.
They were electrifying.
Sterling scored a hat-trick, underlining the growing feeling within the game that he will go on to win the PFA player of the year.
England really look the part
Southgate did not jump on the bandwagon – he is driving it.
Kane also scored, netting his 21st goal in his country’s colours from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
They finished the job when substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi’s effort was bizarrely turned in by Czech defender Tomas Kalas.
England really do look the part, in total control of the outcome of this Euro 2020 opener.
Kane is central to Southgate’s plans, with these two flying wingers operating either side of him.
Roy Hodgson called them “five-yard furies”, but he could never get the best out of them.
Southgate has found a way.
Sterling is a nailed on starter, guaranteed to games after coming of age as an England player.
The smash and grab against Spain, when he scored twice in the Nations League tie in Seville, has transformed him.
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Warm reception for Rice
Sancho, who set up Sterling’s first, was excellent out on the right.
To think that England had Marcus Rashford watching this from his couch and Hudson-Odoi on the bench strengthens Southgate’s hand.
They overcame an early setback, when Eric Dier failed to recover from a nasty little challenge by Tomas Soucek just 10 minutes in.
Southgate had his replacements in mind, with a straight choice between new kid Declan Rice and Ross Barkley.
Rice got a warm reception, welcomed into the fold by England’s fans after his stupid pro-IRA social media post surfaced on Thursday.
He had to wait until the second half, when England were 3-0 up, to show what he could do.
Southgate sent on Barkley instead, turning to the Chelsea man to provide a little bit of spark and inspiration.
It worked.
England have a clear pattern of play, established during their run to the World Cup semi-final
Sunsport's Neil Custis
There were 25 passes in the build up to England’s goal, a dizzying spell of football that led to Sterling’s opener.
This is what Southgate had in mind when he took charge of this England side.
It was a goal for the purists, with England passing the ball around this Czech team with breathtaking confidence.
They have a clear pattern of play, established during their run to the World Cup semi-final and polished in time to qualify for the Nations League finals.
This was an enhanced version, with Kane making the no look pass when he threaded the ball into the feet of Sancho.
He was already speeding beyond Czech left-back Filip Novak, charging into the area before crossing for Sterling.
English football’s man of the moment threw out his left leg at the far post to put his country in front.
There is a shout to say Sancho was offside, that he had strayed beyond Novak when Kane released him with his worldie pass.
It was tight, but there is no point agonising over it.
There was more to come from England, 2-0 up when Kane scored from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
Sterling was the meat in the sandwich, squeezed in between Pavel Kaderabek and Tomas Kalas.
They should have used their loaf.
Instead the pair of them seemed to upend him, giving Portuguese ref Artur Dias a decision to make.
He went with England.
Kane did his customary faux hesitant run up before belting his effort beyond Czech keeper Jiri Pavlenka.
He went the right way, but Kane hits them with such authority, such force, that it is a job to get anywhere near them.
Sterling's touching tribute
The Czech’s stirred at the start of the second half, but all they could muster was a David Pavelka chance saved by Jordan Pickford.
England took control again.
Sterling got his second, first on to the ball when Kyle Walker’s pass bounced off a Czech defender.
He has supreme confidence at the minute, twisting inside the area before lifting his effort into Pavlenka’s net.
The England flyer lifted up his shirt, with a touching tribute for young Damary Dawkins after the youngster lost his battle with leukaemia last weekend.
Sterling had been a proud supporter of the 13-year-olds fight to this deadly disease.
He did the young lad proud, topping off an exceptional night when he completed his hat-trick after 68 minutes.
His bending effort took a deflection on the way in, but this was still Sterling’s night.
Southgate took him off moments later, sending for Hudson-Odoi for the final 20 minutes.
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He made an impact, playing an important role when England’s fifth goal was turned in by Kalas.
It got another throaty cheer from England’s fans, but nothing could compare with the moment the man of the match announcement was made.
This night undoubtedly belonged to Sterling.
