England first to qualify as Rooney equals record
England became the first team to join hosts France at Euro 2016 after crushing San Marino 6-0 on Saturday, with Wayne Rooney equalling Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record of 49 goals for his country.
The visitors outclassed San Marino's part-timers as they chalked up a seventh successive Group E qualifying win to seal a place in France next year with three matches to spare.
Rooney, who scored his first goal for England 12 years ago this weekend, equalled Charlton's 45-year-old record when he scored with a 13th-minute penalty, sending goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini the wrong way.
Both players scored their 49 goals in 106 appearances.
The England skipper never had another clear-cut chance to break the record and manager Roy Hodgson replaced Rooney after 57 minutes with Harry Kane who also got among the scorers with a well-taken chip in the 75th.
'It's a proud moment for me to equal Bobby's record and my aim is to push on and help the team beat Switzerland on Tuesday,' Rooney told ITV Sport.
'Since I joined Manchester United, Bobby gives me advice after games and I am sure if anyone will be happy for me to break his record it will be him.'
Hodgson said he had always planned to take Rooney off.
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