5 things we learned from the weekend's EURO 2016 Qualifiers

Qualification for Euro 2016 stepped up another gear as teams began to book their places alongside hosts France with two games remaining.

Gareth Bale celebrates Wales's win in Cyprus (AAP) Source: Press Association

Here, we take a look at five things we learned so far.

1. THE THREE LIONS ARE ROARING AGAIN

England became the first side to join Euro 2016 hosts France at next year's tournament thanks to a 6-0 victory away to San Marino on Saturday to claim its seventh win from seven qualifying games to date.

Striker Wayne Rooney equalled the national record held by Sir Bobby Charlton as he netted his 49th England goal while Theo Walcott scored a brace and Ross Barkley and Harry Kane also got on the scoresheet, along with an own-goal.

Rooney will now bid to break Charlton's record against Switzerland as Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson revealed the substitution of his captain was a premeditated, with the match against the Swiss at Wembley on Tuesday in mind.

It is difficult to forge a more comprehensive path through a qualifying campaign and Hodgson's side will be aiming to complete the perfect run against Switzerland before taking on Estonia and Lithuania next month.

2. WALES ARE A ONE-MAN TEAM

Wales' qualification to next summer's European Championship in France - their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup - is within reach following its goalless draw with Israel on Sunday. They now need two points from their remaining two games to progress.

Wales remain unbeaten in Euro 2016 qualifying despite being pitched into a tough group with Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina but its progress to the tournament has been assured mostly by the talents of one man.

The Dragons have scored nine times in its qualifying campaign and Gareth Bale has had a hand in eight of those goals: the Real Madrid forward has scored six times and provided two assists for his country.

Imagine where Chris Coleman's side would be if the 26-year-old was taken out of the equation? They will have to hope that the Cardiff-born star remains fully fit for the tournament if they are to have any chance of making an impact.

3. SIZE IS NOT EVERYTHING

Iceland have become the smallest nation to qualify for the finals of the European Championship in the competition's history after its goalless draw with Kazakhstan.

The island had a population estimated at just 317,351 in July 2014 according to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) statistics.

Prior to Iceland's success, Slovenia was the smallest nation to reach the finals when it qualified for Euro 2000. Its population was estimated at 1,988,292 in July 2014 by the CIA World Factbook, a small number in itself but dwarfing the population of Iceland.

4. BLIND LEADING THE BLIND

Danny Blind's first two matches in charge of Netherlands after replacing Guus Hiddink have been nothing short of a disaster as the Dutch now face a struggle to seal a third-place play-off berth.

Oranje's 1-0 defeat by Iceland on Thursday, coupled with an injury to Arjen Robben and Bruno Martins Indi's red card, left it staring down the barrel of scraping through, before woes were compounded three days later after Turkey handed it a 3-0 defeat.

Results left the Dutch fourth in Group A on 10 points, two adrift of Turkey, who leap-frogged them following its 3-0 victory.

Ntherlands, who finished third in the 2014 World Cup, have appeared in nine of the 14 European Championships to date, but could well be absent at the next edition after winning only three of its eight qualifying matches so far.

5. BELGIUM'S STARS CONTINUED TO SHINE - JUST

It took a late goal from Eden Hazard for Belgium to beat Cyprus 1-0 in Group B on Sunday following its more comfortable 3-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

On paper it was two more wins for the side currently ranked second in the world behind Argentina, but in reality the slender win over Cyprus was a hard-fought and far from attractive affair for a side which contains creative talents including Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Christian Benteke.

Belgium's late win did, however, delay Wales' celebrations, as a goalless draw in Nicosia would have seen Coleman's team qualify for next year's tournament.