After almost a week of waiting while every other nation got their World Cup campaign underway, England began their American dream on Wednesday night and a dream start it was.
The Three Lions supporters are known for being among the most pessimistic, yet even they must have been impressed by what they saw on the final night of Matchday One.
Their 4-2 win over Croatia was undeniably one of the most entertaining England matches ever played in recent years. Regardless of the weak defensive moments, Thomas Tuchel’s side were exhilarating going forward.
Gone are the days of scraping extra time wins over the likes of Slovakia and penalty shoot-outs against Switzerland. This England team turned up against their 2018 heartbreakers and took care of business.
Jude Bellingham was outstanding, both in and out of possession, rushing up and down the pitch and making an impact wherever he was needed. Throughout the build-up to the tournament, there has been plenty of debate surrounding Bellingham and Morgan Rogers. Inside 79 minutes at the Dallas Stadium, the Madridista put the argument to bed. He is simply unstoppable.
Rogers came on for Declan Rice and almost made an immediate impact as he danced through a couple of Croatia defenders before his pass into Bukayo Saka was intercepted. The Aston Villa man had just 11 touches and created two good opportunities.
However, his cameo was blurred by the elation of Bellingham popping up with yet another vital moment in an England shirt.
But beneath the surface, beyond the obvious debate of England’s number 10, is a story of redemption. That story belongs to Marcus Rashford.
The 28-year-old hasn’t had an easy ride over the last few years, but then again, which Manchester United player ever does?
Rashford burst onto the Premier League scene at 18 years old in the 2015/16 season. He made 11 top-flight appearances that season, scoring five goals and providing two assists. His goalscoring form and importance in the side grew in the five years that followed but faced a slight blip in the 2021/22 season.
That campaign saw Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjær and replace him with interim manager Ralf Rangnick. Rashford missed pre-season due to a severe shoulder injury and floating bone fragments in his ankle. Surgery in the summer caused him to miss the first two months of the 2021/22 season and significantly disrupted his ability to find form.
His form did return in the following season, but as Manchester United’s form began to plummet further, so did Rashford’s. In turn, people’s judgment of the Red Devils forward also deteriorated.
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel’s England Tactics Explained
The controversial loan move to Aston Villa
A loan move to Aston Villa in the winter window last season raised even more eyebrows, but it turned out to be a move that got Rashford back on his feet.
Under Unai Emery, Rashford registered four goals and five assists in 17 appearances. Not only that, but his overall performances earned him a spot back into the England squad, after missing out on the 2024 European Championships in the summer prior.
The Englishman’s time at Villa gave him a platform heading into the summer, where he was able to secure a more lucrative temporary move to Barcelona for the 2025/26 season. It was a move that paid off pretty well to say the least.
Rashford netted 14 goals and 11 assists in 49 games for Barcelona, helping them to the La Liga and Super Cup titles. More importantly, his key role in Hansi Flick’s side meant that Rashford remained in the fold for England throughout qualification and secured a call-up for the World Cup in North America.
Although he failed to start against Croatia ahead of new Barca signing Anthony Gordon, he made far more of an impact during his 18 minutes on the pitch.
Why Rashford’s goal meant so much
In the 85th minute, fellow substitute Bukayo Saka started the move by finding Rogers before getting it back. The Arsenal forward fed the ball into Rashford, who was in acres of space on the left flank.
Rashford remained composed, chopped back inside and dispatched a well-taken finish with his right foot. The 28-year-old had worked tirelessly to get back to the top level and made his mark to ensure England’s victory in Dallas.
It’s a known fact that so much can change from tournament to tournament. Players’ careers can flip within an instant; many fall and never return. Rashford refused to be another ‘what if?’.
His coolly taken goal not only put the nail in the coffin against Croatia, but it also told all his doubters that he’s not going anywhere. Rashford is back.
The tactics – watch now on YouTube
Written by Isabelle Martin
Leave a Reply