Highlights: England beat Lithuania 3-0 to make it perfect 10 in Euro 2016 qualifiers
England beat Lithuania 3-0 at the LFF Stadionas on Monday night in Kaunas, Lithuania, to make it 10 wins out of 10 to top group E in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. The Three Lions had already qualified for the tournament in France next year with two games to spare and Roy Hodgson decided to experiment in Lithuania with a lineup very different to what fans are accustomed to.
Tensions ran high before the match which saw trouble in the stands when riot police were brought in to separate England and Lithuania fans behind one of the goals. A few England fans had reportedly bought tickets in a section that was reserved for the home fans.
Goals from Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and an own goal from goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis saw England top the group with 30 points. In the process, they scored 31 goals and conceded only 3 – a staggering feat. Meanwhile, Lithuania were eliminated before this game itself and manager Igoris Pankratjevas resigned soon after the match was over.
Ross Barkley gave England the lead in the 29th minute, albeit from a deflected shot. After getting the ball from Harry Kane, the Everton midfielder took a shot from outside the box and the ball ended up in the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
The lead was doubled within six minutes when Kane played a one-two with Adam Lallana and his shot from inside the box hit the near post. The ball then went in off the rebound with Lithuania goalkeeper Arlauskis unable to do anything about it. The teams went into the break with England leading 2-0.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then made it 3-0 to secure victory in the 62nd minute when Kyle Walker found the Arsenal forward in the box. The 22-year-old took a powerful shot with his right foot to blast it into the top right corner to end any hopes of a Lithuanian comeback.