San Marino v England: Minnows are the Three Lions' all-time favourite opponents

England have a +30 goal difference over the minnows

David Platt (left) scored twice in England's 7-1 win over San Marino back in November 1993 (GETTY IMAGES)

San Marino are England’s favourite opponents of all-time, according to the statistics.

In the five meetings between the two sides, England have triumphed every game with a scoring average of over six goals per game.

This average is the highest goals per game ratio that England have against any side in their recorded 133 year history.

The five meetings between the two sides have left England with a goal difference of +30, scoring five or more goals in each game against the minnows.

In 1993, San Marino were defeated 6-0 and 7-1 by England, with David Platt scoring four goals in the first meeting, and Ian Wright netting four in the second game in the same year.

San Marino then got a 19 year break from facing England until 2012, and haven’t seemed to escape since, with the sides facing each other every year between 2012 and 2015.

England won 5-0 in 2012 after braces from Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, following this up with an 8-0 win in San Marino in 2013, when there was an England record of seven different goal scorers on the day. Then in 2014, England recorded another 5-0 win at Wembley with four different goal scorers, including another Wayne Rooney goal.

With England captain Wayne Rooney chasing the all time goal scoring record, needing only one to equal Booby Charlton’s record, San Marino may well be in for another tough evening against England on Saturday.

If Rooney can bag a brace he will not only become England’s all time goal scorer record holder, he will also get the perhaps more prestigious honour of becoming England’s most prolific goal scorer against San Marino.

If the form guide is anything to go by, we could be in for another convincing England score line this Saturday in San Marino, as the minnows haven’t won since 2004 whilst England are unbeaten in their last 11 outings.

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