Wayne Rooney equals goalscoring record as England cruise to 6-0 victory over San Marino

England secured qualification for next summer's European Championships in France after a convincing 6-0 win over San Marino at the Olympic Stadium in Serravalle.

Wayne Rooney netted the opener from the penalty spot to go level on 49 goals with Sir Bobby Charlton as England's all-time record scorer, and the Manchester United captain has a chance to claim the record for himself in Tuesday's Group E qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley.

The Sammarinese part-timers, who secured a first-ever point in a competitive match in November's goalless draw with Estonia, defended stoutly in the first half and went into the break with just a two-goal deficit following Rooney's penalty and Cristian Brolli's own goal.

However, Pierangelo Manzaroli's side visibly tired in the second half, as England's superior technical ability and fitness told.

Everton playmaker Ross Barkley scored his first senior international goal 15 seconds after the restart, then Theo Walcott netted twice and fellow substitute Harry Kane also got on the scoresheet as England became the first country to qualify for the 2016 finals.

England's seventh consecutive Group E win sees Roy Hodgson's side progress to the Euro 2016 finals with three matches to spare, as third-placed Slovenia can now only match England's 21 points and Srecko Katanec's side have an inferior head-to-head record.

11' – PENALTY! John Stones handles the ball in the box as he attempts to get on the end of Milner's free-kick, but the referee has given a penalty and a yellow card to Berardi!

12' - GOAL! San Marino 0-1 England. Rooney equals Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record of 49 as he sends Aldo Simoncini the wrong way!

19' – CHANCE! Aldo Simoncini beats out Rooney's effort from the left channel, then Davide Simoncini reacts quickest to hook the loose ball away from Milner.

30' – GOAL! San Marino 0-2 England. Cristian Brolli puts a header through his own net as he competes with Rooney for a Shaw cross from the left.

38' – CHANCE! Stones is unable to get a clean contact on a Milner corner and Simoncini is able to make a comfortable save.

43' – WHAT A SAVE! Simoncini spills the ball after a mix-up with twin brother Davide, but goalkeeper Aldo then makes a brilliant reaction save to tip Oxlade-Chamberlain's follow-up on to the crossbar and over!

46' – GOAL! San Marino 0-3 England. Ross Barkley heads home his first international goal from close range 15 seconds after the restart, from Oxlade-Chamberlain's inch-perfect cross.

68' – GOAL! San Marino 0-4 England. Walcott pokes home at the far post under pressure from Berardi with his first touch, from Delph's low cross from the left.

77' – GOAL! San Marino 0-5 England. Kane delightfully chips a Shelvey pass over Simoncini from the right channel to make it 5-0.

78' – GOAL! San Marino 0-6 England. Walcott makes it six with a cool finish from the right channel from Barkley's pass.

England have now gone 12 matches unbeaten, the Three Lions' best run since Terry Venables and his Euro '96 team.

England have scored 24 goals and conceded none in their last four meetings with San Marino.

San Marino have just one win from 131 games and kept just three clean sheets in the last 25 years.

San Marino have scored 17 goals in international football since 1990, and conceded 536.

The Leicester striker, making his first international start, was a lumbering presence up front against the part-timers of San Marino. The 28-year-old failed to gel with Rooney in Hodgson's 4-4-2 formation, and his overly-physical presence left bruises on the heads of defenders Cristian Brolli and Marco Berardi, but little mark on the match.

Jonjo Shelvey (England): The Swansea midfielder, winning only his second cap, brought his impressive early-season Premier League form onto the international stage. Shelvey was a shrewd link player between the midfield and the front two, and set up Harry Kane's 77th minute goal with a deft pass into the right channel.

San Marino: A Simoncini 7, Bonini 6, Brolli 6, D Simoncini 6, Palazzi 6, Berardi 5, M. Battistini 5, Chiaruzzi 5, Hirsch 5, Vitaioli 5, Selva 5. Subs: Tosi 6, Della Valle 6, Rinaldi 5.

England: Hart 7, Shaw 7, Stones 6, Jagielka 7, Clyne 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 8, Barkley 7, Milner 6, Shelvey 8, Rooney 7, Vardy 5. Subs: Delph 7, Walcott 8, Kane 8.