Budapest (AFP)

England made the hole at the top of qualifying group I for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by easily winning over their immediate pursuer, Hungary (4-0), on Thursday.

With a perfect course and 12 points in 4 matches, Gareth Southgate's men are 5 lengths ahead of their evening hosts and Poland, where they travel next Tuesday and who beat Albania (4-1) .

Unhappy finalists of the Euro, at home against Italy (1-1, 3-2 tab), the "Three Lions" showed that they had digested this disappointment and displayed an undeniable domination over the very disappointing Hungarians after having held high for Germany, France and Portugal this summer.

England coach Gareth Southgate had decided to trust ten of the eleven holders of the final at Wembley.

He had however opted for a defense to 4, choosing to throw Jack Grealish from the kick-off, rather than Kieran Trippier.

Among the reasons for satisfaction for the technician will be the confirmed defensive solidity, even if the weakness of the opposition can bring this observation into perspective.

Apart from a parade in his still unorthodox style of Jordan Pickford on a strike from Adam Szalai ten minutes from time, the English goalkeeper had nothing to do.

Conversely, after a little sluggish first 45 minutes, the English attack devoured the opposing defense.

- Gulacsi at fault -

The score even seems almost lenient given the unusual failures of Harry Kane (50th, 67th, 78th) and Raheem Sterling too greedy in his face-to-face with Peter Gulacsi (77th).

The English made the difference around the hour mark on two balls well recovered by Declan Rice in the middle of the field and at the origin of lightning blocks.

On the first, he transmitted to Grealish who extended in perfect timing for Mason Mount whose center back found Sterling (1-0, 55th).

England striker Raheem Sterling opens the scoring against Hungary, during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, September 2, 2021 in Budapest Attila KISBENEDEK AFP

The best possible answer for the player who was shouted the whole match by the Hungarian public, who also whistled the English when they had fallen to their knees before kick-off.

On the second ball recovered, Mount deflected for Sterling, whose center in the half-volley found Kane's diving header (2-0, 63rd).

The joy of the English striker Harry Kane (r), congratulated by Raheem Sterling, after scoring the second goal against Hungary, during the qualifications for the World Cup-2022 in Qatar, September 2, 2021 in Budapest Attila KISBENEDEK AFP

Harry Maguire headed from a corner, without even jumping, and Rice, with a long shot, then benefited from Gulacsi's hand errors to bring the score to 3-0 (69th) and 4-0 (87th).

With 13 goals scored and only 1 conceded, England posted a comfortable goal difference before hosting the modest side of Andorra on Sunday, as the Hungarians try to revive in Albania.

© 2021 AFP