Sterling now has seven goals in 48 games for England
Raheem Sterling scored his first England hat-trick as their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign started in hugely impressive fashion as they outclassed the Czech Republic at Wembley.
Manager Gareth Southgate gave Jadon Sancho his first international start and Borussia Dortmund's 18-year-old repaid his faith with a fine display.
But it was Sterling who stole the show as England built on the development that saw them reach the World Cup semi-finals in Russia and the finals of the inaugural Nations League.
Sancho showed his quality with a perfect cross for the stretching Sterling to open the scoring after 24 minutes and captain Harry Kane added the second in first-half stoppage time after the Manchester City forward was bundled over by two Czech Republic defenders.
England survived minor scares at the start of the second half but reasserted their vast superiority when Sterling scored on the turn just after the hour and completed his hat-trick six minutes later when his 20-yard shot deflected in off Ondrej Celustka.
Sterling was then given a standing ovation as he was replaced by debutant Callum Hudson-Odoi, with another of England's young brigade Declan Rice having already been given his first Three Lions cap as replacement for Dele Alli.
And Hudson-Odoi, making his England debut before his first Premier League start for Chelsea, had a hand in the fifth when his shot was saved by keeper Jiri Pavlenka, only for Tomas Kalas to turn the rebound into his own net.
- Relive England's thumping victory over the Czech Republic
Sterling show his class
When Sterling scored twice in England's 3-2 win in Spain in October, their first win there for 31 years, the goals ended a three-year barren international sequence, stretching back 27 games.
No-one questioned Sterling's ability or his attitude but this was clearly a flaw that needed addressing, although the feeling remained that he simply needed one goal to open the floodgates and replicate his club form at Manchester City.
And so it has proved.
The burden, such as it was, lifted off Sterling's shoulders on that stellar night in Seville and Wembley witnessed a player in prime form and confidence.
Sterling, in tandem with Kane and Sancho, terrorised the Czech Republic defence, stealing in for a poacher's first goal before a driving run into the area brought England a penalty.
He showed great awareness to score his second on the turn before getting a deserved slice of good fortune with a deflection for his hat-trick.
Wembley rose to Sterling as he went off - his status as a player crucial to England's future underlined.
Southgate gives a glimpse into the future
England manager Gareth Southgate said he would have no hesitation in blooding the talented band of youngsters he has at his disposal and he was as good as his word in this thrilling glimpse into the future.
Sancho, on his first start, was brimming with confidence, running at the Czech defence as he set up the first goal and only being denied a goal himself by a desperate goalline clearance after the break.
Rice was given a run-out for a taste of the full England experience while Hudson-Odoi also showed the fearlessness of youth in his cameo appearance.
This young group, alongside the established figures such as Kane and Sterling, delighted England's fans and added to the growing excitement and expectation surrounding Southgate's side.
Yes, the Czech Republic were mediocre opponents but England put them away with so much to spare that one can only admire this performance as Southgate's men now prepare to face Montenegro in Podgorica on Monday.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
England
1Pickford
2Walker
5Keane
6Maguire
3Chilwell
8Henderson
4DierSubstituted forBarkleyat 17'minutes
10AlliSubstituted forRiceat 63'minutes
7Sancho
9Kane
11SterlingSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 70'minutes
Substitutes
12Trippier
13Heaton
14Rose
15Tarkowski
16Rice
17Ward-Prowse
18Barkley
19Wilson
20Hudson-Odoi
21Butland
Czech Rep
23Pavlenka
2KaderábekBooked at 45mins
3Celustka
6Kalas
22Novak
15Soucek
11Pavelka
4Gebre Selassie
8DaridaSubstituted forMasopustat 67'minutes
14JanktoSubstituted forVydraat 45'minutes
19SchickBooked at 53minsSubstituted forSkodaat 82'minutes
Substitutes
1Kolar
5Coufal
7Zmrhal
9Dockal
10Frydek
12Masopust
13Kral
16Koubek
17Suchy
18Kudela
20Vydra
21Skoda
Referee:
Artur Manuel Soares Dias
Attendance:
82,575
Match Stats
Home TeamEnglandAway TeamCzech Rep
Possession
Home66%
Away34%
Shots
Home13
Away7
Shots on Target
Home8
Away2
Corners
Home3
Away2
Fouls
Home8
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, England 5, Czech Republic 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+3'
Second Half ends, England 5, Czech Republic 0.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Declan Rice (England).
Posted at 90'+1'
Matej Vydra (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Ross Barkley (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Tomas Soucek (Czech Republic).
Goal!Posted at 84'
Own Goal by Tomas Kalas, Czech Republic. England 5, Czech Republic 0.
Posted at 84'
Attempt saved. Callum Hudson-Odoi (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jadon Sancho.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Czech Republic. Milan Skoda replaces Patrik Schick.
Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Matej Vydra (Czech Republic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Tomas Soucek.
Posted at 79'
Ross Barkley (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Lukas Masopust (Czech Republic).
Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Callum Hudson-Odoi (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ross Barkley.
Posted at 75'
Attempt blocked. Jordan Henderson (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jadon Sancho.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Patrik Schick (Czech Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tomas Soucek.
Posted at 72'
Attempt missed. Ross Barkley (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ben Chilwell with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, England. Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Raheem Sterling.
Goal!Posted at 68'
Goal! England 4, Czech Republic 0. Raheem Sterling (England) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross Barkley.
SubstitutionPosted at 67'
Substitution, Czech Republic. Lukas Masopust replaces Vladimir Darida.
SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, England. Declan Rice replaces Dele Alli.
Goal!Posted at 62'
Goal! England 3, Czech Republic 0. Raheem Sterling (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Posted at 59'
Attempt blocked. Jadon Sancho (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Posted at 57'
Dele Alli (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 57'
Foul by Patrik Schick (Czech Republic).
Posted at 55'
Foul by Jordan Henderson (England).
Posted at 55'
Matej Vydra (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 53'
Attempt saved. David Pavelka (Czech Republic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Patrik Schick with a cross.
BookingPosted at 53'
Patrik Schick (Czech Republic) is shown the yellow card for dangerous play.
Posted at 52'
Jordan Pickford (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 52'
Dangerous play by Patrik Schick (Czech Republic).
Posted at 52'
Attempt saved. David Pavelka (Czech Republic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tomas Kalas.
Posted at 52'
Corner, Czech Republic. Conceded by Ben Chilwell.
Posted at 51'
Attempt missed. Tomas Soucek (Czech Republic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Vladimir Darida with a cross following a set piece situation.
Posted at 50'
Foul by Jordan Henderson (England).
Posted at 50'
Tomas Soucek (Czech Republic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 49'
Attempt blocked. David Pavelka (Czech Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ondrej Celustka.
Second HalfPosted at
Second Half begins England 2, Czech Republic 0.
SubstitutionPosted at 45'
Substitution, Czech Republic. Matej Vydra replaces Jakub Jankto.
Half TimePosted at 45'+3'
First Half ends, England 2, Czech Republic 0.
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Source: bbc.com