England Under-21s head coach Gareth Southgate watches his side in action against San Marino.
Gareth Southgate hailed his side following their 9-0 victory over San Marino on Tuesday which takes the Three Lions into 2014 on a high.
The England head coach had asked his side to be more ruthless in front of goal in the build-up to the game, to which they responded in the right way with three goals in the first 20 minutes.
And they went on to clock up a new record scoreline for the Under-21s with a further six goals.
Southgate told TheFA.com: "I'm delighted with the performance from the first minute to the last.
"We moved the ball quickly and with intelligence and quality.
"We used the areas where we knew the space would be and we were unselfish in our attacking play to create chances for others and were ruthless in our finishing.
"Even from half-time onwards, we could have got sloppy and taken our foot off the gas but we kept going and going and driving for a goal until the last minute.”
The result leaves England three points clear at the top of their Euro qualifying group with a game in hand, going into the new year.
And with the final four games seeing a double-header with Wales and away games in Lithuania and Moldova, Southgate wants his side to keep improving.
"I'm particularly pleased with the attitude and approach that all of the players have shown since we got together, as we've put some good principles in place,” he added.
"We've formed some good habits and want to keep improving every time we come together because there are much tougher challenges ahead.
"But it's good to see them play with a smile and with freedom and enjoy wearing an England shirt.”
The England head coach had asked his side to be more ruthless in front of goal in the build-up to the game, to which they responded in the right way with three goals in the first 20 minutes.
And they went on to clock up a new record scoreline for the Under-21s with a further six goals.
Southgate told TheFA.com: "I'm delighted with the performance from the first minute to the last.
"We moved the ball quickly and with intelligence and quality.
"We used the areas where we knew the space would be and we were unselfish in our attacking play to create chances for others and were ruthless in our finishing.
"Even from half-time onwards, we could have got sloppy and taken our foot off the gas but we kept going and going and driving for a goal until the last minute.”
The result leaves England three points clear at the top of their Euro qualifying group with a game in hand, going into the new year.
And with the final four games seeing a double-header with Wales and away games in Lithuania and Moldova, Southgate wants his side to keep improving.
"I'm particularly pleased with the attitude and approach that all of the players have shown since we got together, as we've put some good principles in place,” he added.
"We've formed some good habits and want to keep improving every time we come together because there are much tougher challenges ahead.
"But it's good to see them play with a smile and with freedom and enjoy wearing an England shirt.”
