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Six of the best: England's biggest victories in World Cup qualifiers

Ahead of their clash with San Marino - the team ranked last in the FIFA rankings - we look at England’s biggest winning margins in World Cup qualifying matches...and Monday's hosts feature heavily.

In recent years England have taken no prisoners when it comes to racking up huge scorelines against Europe's lesser nations, so let's see which countries have been on the end of the Three Lions' biggest thumpings.

England 6-0 San Marino - February 17, 1993

Incredibly, England did not manage to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States, even though they netted 26 goals in only 10 matches.

Graham Taylor's team went into their third match of the qualifying campaign against San Marino having drawn with Norway 1-1 and defeated Turkey 4-0.

David Platt scored four goals as England ran up a 6-0 scoreline against their part-time opponents. Platt, who had been made captain for the first time, even had the chance to break an England record of scoring five times in one match, but he saw his 88th-minute penalty saved.

Carlton Palmer and Les Ferdinand added to the score in what was a comfortable win over weak opposition.

San Marino 1-7 England - November 17, 1993

A matter of months later and the teams faced off again in the reverse fixture. This match is certainly remembered more in the soccer world.

After only 8.3 seconds, San Marino shocked the world by taking the lead.

Davide Gualtieri, a computer salesman, reacted to a mistake from Stuart Pearce to score the opening goal. The minuscule nation had scored just two international goals in 18 matches before facing England.

England went into the match requiring a seven-goal winning margin and Poland to beat the Netherlands to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

Even after conceding that early in the match, it was not conceivable that England would lose the game and they soon were on top in Bologna.

Four goals from striker Ian Wright, a brace from Paul Ince and one for Les Ferdinand put England out on top but they were unable to find another goal. Not that it mattered as Poland were unable to do them a favour on a night that will always be remembered for THAT goal by Gualtieri.

"You know, sometimes if I'm feeling a bit down, I'll play it again just to cheer myself up. It always works," Gualtieri said years later.

England 6-0 Andorra - June 10, 2009

The Three Lions registered one of their biggest qualifying wins against the team they beat 4-0 and 5-0 in the current qualifying campaign.

Twelve years ago, Fabio Capello's side easily swept aside the nation with a population of only just over 75,000 people - more people can occupy Wembley than the population of Andorra!

"Some of his passes were so good, they were some of the best I have ever seen," said John Terry about one of his team-mates... guess who?

David Beckham.

Although Beckham didn't register a goal, he played a key role in the 6-0 demolition of Andorra.

England scored their first goal after only four minutes through Wayne Rooney, and he doubled up in the 39th minute, by which time Frank Lampard had also got his name on the scoresheet. The other scorers on the night were Jermain Defoe, who contributed two goals, and Peter Crouch.

Turkey 0-8 England - November 14, 1984

Bryan Robson showed his class as England thrashed a sorry-looking Turkish outfit back in 1984. The then Manchester United player scored his first international hat-trick for his country as England put eight past Turkey.

Viv Anderson netted his first international goal and John Barnes and Tony Woodcock both bagged braces. Turkey's defence was far from impressive with the majority of England goals coming because of a lack of marking.

San Marino 0-8 England - March 22, 2013

England secured their biggest win since 1987 after once again putting San Marino to the sword. They defeated the lowest-ranked country in the world 8-0.

An own goal from San Marino made it 1-0, quickly followed by a well deserved goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The mismatch continued. Next to score was Jermain Defoe with a tap-in before Ashley Young added to the tally by scoring a sensational long-range shot minutes later.

Captain Frank Lampard got in on the act to make it 5-0 at the interval. Substitute Daniel Sturridge, Rooney and Defoe again rounded off the scoring.

Luxembourg 0-9 England - October 19, 1960

The Three Lions would go on to progress to the quarter-final stage of the 1962 World Cup in Chile before being knocked out by reigning champions Brazil, losing 3-1.

Before that, England comfortably qualified for the tournament after winning a group that featured Portugal and Luxembourg. They began their campaign in the best way possible, beating Luxembourg 9-0 in what is still their biggest World Cup qualifying victory.
The away team's goals were scored by Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Greaves (both hat-tricks), a brace from Bobby Smith and one from Johnny Haynes.
A crowd of 5,500 people watched on as England ran riot in Luxembourg and over 50 years have since passed, which makes you wonder: will this scoreline ever be topped?

READ MORE: Sir Bobby Charlton's iconic moments for Manchester United and England

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