Previous clashes: San Marino

  • Friday, 12 October, 2012
  • David Platt in action against San Marino in Bologna in 1993

England have faced the Sammarinese just twice, both games coming in 1993



England take on San Marino tonight in a sold out  World Cup qualifier at Wembley Stadium.

Here we take a look at the two previous meetings between the Three Lions and the visitors.

17 February 1993 - England 6-0 San Marino

Four goals by David Platt and first international strikes for Carlton Palmer and Les Ferdinand ensured England breezed past San Marino in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Norway had already rattled in ten against the part-timers the previous year, so the only surprise was that the Three Lions could not fill their boots even more.

Three goals in the last 12 minutes added gloss to the scoreline after a battling display from the Sammarinese.

17 November 1993 - San Marino 1-7 England

Davide Gualtieri made history for San Marino in this match as he scored the fastest World Cup qualifying goal ever.

Just 8.33 seconds were on the clock when he latched onto Stuart Pearce's under-hit backpass to slot the ball home beyond David Seaman.

But England bounced back on 22 minutes with an equaliser through Paul Ince.

A Les Ferdinand strike, a second for Ince and four goals by Ian Wright eventually saw Graham Taylor's men claim victory by a six-goal margin.

But it was not enough to see them qualify for the 1994 World Cup and Taylor resigned days later.


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