Naturally, Gareth Southgate would never be so presumptuous, three games into England’s qualifying group, to assert that his team’s participation in Euro 2020 is virtually assured already. The rest of us, however, can probably start to consider it a fait accompli. And an argument could even be made that they were virtually guaranteed a place as soon as the draw was made.
Their latest victory certainly left the impression that there is a drowsy inevitability about England’s progression. Harry Kane added another three goals to his portfolio, scoring the second hat-trick of his international career.
England have accumulated 14 goals from three qualifiers and Raheem Sterling has scored seven times in his last seven international appearances.