Emlyn Begley
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Goodnight
That's the end of this live text, thanks for joining us tonight.
Check out some match reports here...
Northern Ireland 0-1 Kazakhstan
'A brilliant performance from the boys'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
England
England winger Jack Grealish speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was good. Dust the cobwebs off. It's only been a week - nine days. But it was good to be back out there and what a brilliant performance for the boys.
"I don't think anything did [go wrong]. It is always nice to come onto a game [like that]. I think it was a brilliant performance. Saka, Rashy, I thought the pair of them were unbelievable on the wings and a great night all round for every England fan."
On challenging for a starting spot: "I started in the last camp against Italy and then in this camp I kind of knew at the back of my head that I wouldn't start a game. But listen I'm just here when I'm needed. Obviously I want to play, I want to start, but the manager has a lot of options, especially in them wide areas. Saka, Phil, Rashy and people like Raz and Madders. So he has a lot of options.
"Of course, you want to start in them games. You want to start at the European Championships. That's my goal. I've done it for City but now I want to do that for England."
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Another disappointing night for Northern Ireland, who lost 1-0 at home to Kazakhstan.
Boss Michael O'Neill said: "I'm optimistic that we have got some very good young players but we are probably asking too much of them at this moment of time. We need our older players and we need to hang on to them as long as we can.
"At the moment there are players in the latter stages of their career and there are players right at the infancy of their career.
"We probably don't have enough players who are making a big enough impact in that middle age group."
'It's a privilege to lead this group'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
England
More from England manager Gareth Southgate to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think everything depends on the opposition and what status our players are in. Those three [Rashford, Kane, Saka] have had exceptional seasons with their clubs and we felt tonight it would be more transitional, there would be more space and the speed of Bukayo and Marcus would be decisive. But we have different options with Phil and Jack and others that aren't here. You need that competition. You're not always going to have virtually everybody available, as we did this time. But it's great to have those different options."
On Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance: "I think what it was that defensively it wasn't as straightforward as it looked. The other night he just had to tag the pivot really and he did that well. Tonight he had to make a lot of decisions and he did it almost immaculately. He regained a lot of balls. His pressing was good, so for me, he has got everything to play in there. I didn't even think twice about starting him in there. It might give us something completely different. The vision and the passing range and the connection with Bukayo for his second goal."
On his future as England manager: "It's a group of players and staff that's a privilege to lead and our performances since the World Cup have been impeccable. I think we're in a sweet spot where we were happy with what we did but we had a hunger because we weren't satisfied with where we got to. It was a tough year. If we think back a year to the result and the reception that got and then in September and the pressure that we felt. The different feeling around the team.
"But you have to go through those things and that's what brings you closer as a group. Nights like this are great and you enjoy it but they are possible because of what we have been through on other nights, That's part of being a team."
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Tonight was the first time North Macedonia failed to attempt a shot in a Euros qualifier in over a decade.
'It's really special'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedona
BBC Radio 5 Live
England's hat-trick scorer Bukayo Saka talking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I will remember this for the rest ofmy life. It's a special night, big win and my first hat-trick, it's really special.
"I don’t remember the last time Iscored three even at junior levels. It is a decent scoring record (11 goals in 28 England games) but there isalways room for improvement.
"After this game, it is time forholidays now.
"Trent Alexander-Arnold has beenunbelievable. He is a top quality player and has really shown his quality.
"I will probably frame the match ballbut probably hold it in my arms for a few days first."
'All credit is with Saka'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
England
England manager Gareth Southgate talking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Really pleasing. I thought there was a fabulous atmosphere in the stadium before the game and that gave everybody a huge lift. It was a brilliant night to play football. The weather was good, the pitch was immaculate, the crowd were buzzing.
"What pleased me the most was that every time we lost the ball the hunger to win it back really set the tone for the performance. Then the quality of the play was good and the finishing was ruthless. For the players to have the mentality they have to work, at the late stage of this monster of all seasons, there was every excuse to do that and they've not done that.
"There were boys coming back from the biggest week of their lives professionally. We had boys who had two weeks on the beach and could have approached that differently but I think what we are trying to build was apparent for everyone tonight."
On Bukayo Saka: "All the credit is with him. He works incredibly hard. He's talented, he's humble. He's hugely popular with all of the players and all of the staff and I have to say his finishing has been like that all week. We weren't surprised by the first one, that's how he's been all week, we hadn't seen the second one coming!
"I am delighted for him. He's had a slightly sore Achilles and it's another one where it would have been easy to lull out on the camp and miss out on a night like this that I'm sure will live with him forever."
Post update
In case you missed it, a bad night for Wales, who lost 2-0 to Turkey.
BBC pundit Nathan Blake says: "Rob Page and his team need to sit down and work out some ways of playing. At the moment it's not working, we are not picking up results and we're on the edge of not qualifying."
Iwan Roberts added: "I think we need a miracle to get to Euro 2024. It’s going to be so difficult after losing these last two games. It’s been a disappointing few days for the national team."
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Harry Kane has scored at least oncein 21 of his last 22 major tournament qualifying games for England, netting 31 goals overall in those matches.
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Harry Kane has scored in sixconsecutive England appearances, his joint-longest international scoring run,alongside June 2018 and November 2019.
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
This was North Macedonia’s heaviest defeat, and the first time they have conceded seventimes in a single match.
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
England have now won 12 consecutivehome games in European Championship qualifying by an aggregate score of 47-4.
'Rashford was good tonight'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Tom Heaton
Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 live
I thought Rashford was good tonight. I thought he went at the Macedonia back four.
Those kind of alternatives are what you want to create in the players' minds. Brilliant.
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
They weren't really playing in rigid positions, they just made sure there was a white shirt in those positions when they were defending.
You don't need a footballing brain but you can feel comfortable in there because the manager's worked on it.
Post update
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Only Cliff Bastin (12) has scoredmore goals for England as an Arsenal player than Bukayo Saka (11).
'People want to go to the England camps'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Tom Heaton
Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 live
There is an appetite to go into the England squad now. People in the past said it wasn't as enjoyable.
I never had it in my involvement but people want to go now.
It can only benefit the England team if there is tough competition for places.
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FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
This was England’s biggest margin ofvictory in a home match since November 2019, when they beat Montenegro by the same scoreline atWembley.
'The principles are the same'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
Tom Heaton
Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 live
I think there is definitely a carry-over from the systems of each team.
I think a lot of players have a better understanding and a better education base on what is required with the pressing.
But the principles will remain the same for each game so once they've got that, they should be able to adapt for each game.
Today's qualifying results
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Group B: France 1-0 Greece, Republic of Ireland 3-0 Gibraltar.
Group C: England 7-0 North Macedonia, Ukraine 1-0 Malta.
Group D: Armenia 2-1 Latvia, Turkey 2-0 Wales.
Group H: Finland 6-0 San Marino. Northern Ireland 0-1 Kazakhstan, Slovenia 1-1 Denmark.
Group I: Belarus 2-1 Kosovo, Israel 2-1 Andorra, Switzerland 2-2 Romania.
Republic of Ireland scored a late third through Adam Idah to get their first win of qualifying.
Fightback of the night goes to Romania who were 2-0 behind to Switzerland in the 89th minute before Valentin Mihaila pulled one back before then grabbing a 92nd-minute equaliser. The Swiss nearly won it but Uran Bislimi hit the crossbar in the eighth minute of injury time.
'Couldn't have ended the season in a better way'
FT: England 7-0 North Macedonia
England
England hat-trick hero Bukayo Saka to Channel 4: "It's a feeling I can't put into words. I can't describe how I'm feeling right now. I'm so happy."
Which was his favourite goal? "I like the first one but I'll go for the second goal. Volley outside the box, top corner.
"Tonight was a really special display. We went out with me and Rashy down the wings. Sharp, direct. They couldn't handle us."
On Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield: "He's a top player. At half-time he said to me he was going to do that pass. When I scored I was looking for him to thank him. I didn't have to break my stride.
"It's been a really long season. It's the end of the season now. I couldn't have ended it in a better way. Time to relax and have a break.
"Perfect end to the season. We're really happy with the way the fans turned out and supported us."
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