QUICKIE

Don't get too distressed about today's international football, but "ON THIS DAY", in 1993, England went to San Marino, (yes it is a country and it does have a football team), needing to win by 7 goals and hope that "Holland" lost, so that they could qualify for the 1994 World Cup tournament.  

Davide Gualtieri, a Sammarinese footballer, scored the second fastest goal in FIFA World Cup qualification history, for San Marino, in Bologna, on 17 November 1993. Gualtieri, below, held this fastest goal record for over 23 years. 

San Marino had the kick off and the ball was quickly played through the inside right channel. England defender Stuart Pearce, attempted a back pass to goalkeeper David Seaman, but his pass was under hit, and Gualtieri ran on to touch the ball past Seaman. The goal was timed at 8.3 seconds, which remained the fastest World Cup goal scored in either qualifying or the finals, until Christian Benteke scored after 8.1 seconds for Belgium against Gibraltar, on 10 October 2016 (see below). 

England took twenty minutes to equalise, but eventually only won the match 7–1. It is falsely believed that Gualtieri's goal eliminated England from qualifying for the 1994 World Cup Qualifier, as England needed to win by seven clear goals; however, the result was immaterial as England were also relying on Poland to beat the Netherlands, which they failed to do, and of course England's previous record didn't help.

Gualtieri continued to play for the San Marino national team until 2000, when he retired due to injury. He now works as a computer salesman in San Marino. In 2020, he appeared on the TV series Harry's Heroes, EURO having a laugh, assembling a Sammarinese team to play against a team of 1990s England players once more. 

In the match, which took place in Bologna, Italy, home team, San Marino had the kick off and the ball was quickly played through the inside right channel. Graham "do I not like that" Taylor, watched his team (yes, he was England manager) concede the goal to San Marino, as England defender Stuart Pearce attempted a back pass to goalkeeper David Seaman, but Pearce's pass was under hit, and Gualtieri ran on to touch the ball into the goal. England took twenty minutes to equalise, but eventually won the match 7–1. It is falsely believed that Gualtieri's goal eliminated England from qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, as England needed to win by seven clear goals; however, the result was immaterial as England were also relying on Poland to beat the Netherlands, which they failed to do.

Christian Benteke struck the fastest goal in a competitive international and went on to complete his hat-trick as Belgium defeated Gibraltar 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on October 16th 2016. The Crystal Palace striker stole the ball in the home side’s half after two Gibraltar touches following the kick-off. He weaved his way through their defence to score in the penalty area after 8.1 seconds. UEFA said the goal was 0.2 second faster than the previous record since detailed timing was kept, held by Gualtieri. 

Uefa said the fastest ever international goal is thought to be Lukas Podolski’s for Germany against Ecuador in a 2013 friendly, timed at six seconds.