EX-SAINT Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was among the scorers as Roy Hodgson's men strolled to victory against San Marino.

But the youngster would have been upset had he not been as England cantered home 8-0.

Whether it was a good warm-up for the hostile and intensely competitive encounter they will face in next Tuesday's crucial qualifier against Group H leaders Montenegro is another matter.

San Marino, ranked 207 in the world, are officially the worst team in international football. But England got the job done with a dash of ingenuity and a modicum of style. They also ratcheted up their goal difference which could be crucial with a tight finish in prospect in this group.

The goals were well constructed, apart from the first which was helpfully swept into his own net by San Marino defender Alessandro Della Valle, a bank clerk.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s one-two with Rooney for the second was a triumph of quick feet and sharp minds while Jermain Defoe converted an easy tap-in, which contrasted starkly with the thunderbolt provided by Manchester United’s Ashley Young which screamed into the San Marino net.

Then there was a goal from Frank Lampard, captain for the night.

Wayne Rooney’s swerving free-kick, Daniel Sturridge’s header and another Defoe tap-in completed the scoring.

Eight is great. One more than Montenegro will do on Tuesday.

l Saints defender Maya Yoshida played from the start of Japan’s 2-1 win against Canada in Qatar.

Marcus Haber scored his first international goal for Canada to equalise after Shinji Okazaki opened the scoring for Japan but Japan substitute Mike Havenaar got the match winner.

The match was preparation for next Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Jordan as far as Japan were concerned. Yoshida’s team could be the first to qualify for the 2014 World Cup if they win.

l There was not such good news for Saints’ Vegard Forren who was also in the starting line-up as his Norway side slipped from second to fourth place in qualifying Group E after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Albania.

Hamdi Salihi’s 67th-minute strike proved to be the only goal of the contest in Oslo.

l Saints’ midfielder Steven Davis’s chance to help Northern Ireland put one over on Fabio Capello’s Russia, did not materialise as the match was called off.

l Ex-Saints boss Gordon Strachan had a disappointing night as his Scotland side lost 2-1 at home against a Wales team that included former Saints Gareth Bale.

Defender Grant Hanley gave the home side the lead the against the run of play with a header in Strachan’s first competitive game in charge but Robert Snodgrass was sent off conceding a penalty from which Aaron Ramsey levelled before Reading’s Hal Robson-Kanu headed in the winner just over a minute later.