This archive report was first published on 7 September 2019.
England's bid to qualify for Euro 2020 received a significant boost on September 7, 2019, as they thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley.
Harry Kane, the England captain, was instrumental in the victory, scoring a hat-trick in the process.
The match got off to a subdued start, with Bulgaria adopting a defensive 4-5-1 formation that allowed England to gradually find their rhythm.
However, it was Kane who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, capitalizing on Bulgaria's farcical defending after Georgi Sarmov's backpass to Plamen Iliev prompted the keeper to hurriedly poke the ball towards Vasil Bozhikov.
Recklessly trying to play inside their own penalty area, Bulgaria were caught out as Sterling sensed their panic and nipped in to alertly steal possession before clipping his pass back towards Kane, who slotted into the empty net from close-range.
Kane's first goal was followed by another in the 49th minute, as he dispatched a penalty with ease after Marcus Rashford's incisive raid was tripped by Nikolay Bodurov.
England sealed the win with a third goal in the 55th minute, as Rashford fed Kane and his cross was bundled in by Sterling on the goal-line.
Before kick-off, England manager Gareth Southgate defended his decision to stick with his established players, saying, "We have to win matches. It's not a case of giving people caps. We're trying to qualify for a European Championship."
Southgate's faith in his proven troops was rewarded, as Kieran Trippier earned a recall ahead of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold.
England's next qualifier is against second-placed Kosovo at Southampton on Tuesday, with the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists already looking odds-on to qualify for Euro 2020.
