Marcus Rashford shines as Gareth Southgate’s England selection headache comes to the fore against Wales – World Cup hits and misses | Football News

England

England’s shuffled pack impress – so who does Southgate pick now?

England do not have lengthy to revel of their win over Wales – consideration should swiftly flip to their last-16 tie with Senegal. And Gareth Southgate has some vital choice points to mull over earlier than that showdown on Sunday night.

Can he actually return to Raheem Sterling or Bukayo Saka forward of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden now? These two goalscorers in opposition to Wales confirmed the spectacular kind they’re in after the gamers they changed struggled to again up their performances in opposition to Iran once they confronted USA.

In midfield, Jude Bellingham’s No10 position wasn’t an enormous success, though Jordan Henderson added management, so does Mason Mount come again into that space of the park?

Kyle Walker’s situation after his first 57 minutes again from groin surgical procedure will presumably dictate his position on the weekend, with the ousted Kieran Trippier itching to get again in. Nonetheless, if Walker is match, Trippier’s greatest hope of a beginning spot would depend upon Southgate opting to shake all of it up once more and play wing-backs.

The appearances of Kalvin Phillips – who arrange Rashford’s second – and Trent Alexander-Arnold off the bench for his or her first minutes in Qatar have been reminders of the depth Southgate has to name upon at this match. With a 26-man squad and high quality within the group, there are many selections to make.

He actually bought two of these calls right in opposition to Wales, with Rashford and Foden repaying his determination to incorporate them from the beginning. However as we noticed on the Euros final summer time, it is a supervisor not afraid to vary his personnel and methods for various opposition.

By no means change a successful staff? There will probably be loads of debate about whether or not Southgate ought to observe that mantra within the coming days – each contained in the England camp and amongst their supporters…
Peter Smith

Ravenous Rashford back with a bang

“Moments like this, that is what I play soccer for. The largest moments, the most effective moments.”

These have been the phrases of player-of-the-match Marcus Rashford after England brushed apart Wales to achieve the final 16 of the World Cup.

After his aim in opposition to Iran in England’s opener, Rashford’s sensible second-half double on his first begin in Qatar moved him joint-top of the World Cup scoring charts. The Manchester United ahead is arguably within the type of his life however simply over two months in the past, he was not even within the worldwide fold.

Again in September, Rashford confronted lacking the World Cup altogether after being ignored of England’s 28-man Nations League squad. Though already a doubt on account of what he described as an “premature harm”, the 25-year-old had been missed since November 2021 after struggling for kind at membership stage. His possibilities of making the aircraft to Qatar gave the impression to be fading.

Now although, the image couldn’t be any totally different. After starring below new Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag this season, Rashford is now impressing on the most important stage for his nation. His magnificent free-kick in opposition to Wales – his first for England and the primary of this World Cup – demonstrated his distinctive potential from set-pieces. Moments later, his efficient urgent helped England double their lead earlier than his directness and dedication made it 3-0 to place the outcome past doubt.

“He is actually been spectacular since he got here again in with us,” Gareth Southgate instructed BBC Sport.

After this efficiency, the England supervisor has a easy determination to make. Rashford deserves to begin in opposition to Senegal on Sunday.
Dan Sansom

Foden shines on the left for England

“He is a good possibility in two or three positions and he may have a huge impact,” mentioned Gareth Southgate amid the clamour for Phil Foden’s inclusion. He made that affect in his second place of the night time in England’s emphatic 3-0 win over Wales.

After enjoying on the suitable facet of the ahead line within the first half, Foden unlocked the sport from the left early within the second. Marcus Rashford deserved the participant of the match award for his two targets however this recreation confirmed what Foden can convey to the staff too.

It was Foden whose driving run earned the free-kick from which Rashford scored. It was Foden who was there to show within the second aim simply moments later, a passage of play that started with him urgent the full-back to cross the ball backwards from the kick-off.

Perhaps that shouldn’t be a shock. Foden has been enjoying on the left frequently for Manchester Metropolis this season. Though the main target is on his capabilities as a creator, the statistics present that he’s extra of a finisher proper now. It might be key at this World Cup.
Adam Bate

Read the full feature on why Foden’s best position might be misunderstood

Wales head for home – is Bale’s chapter over?

Wales arrange in an ultra-defensive form to attempt to nullify England and for 50 minutes, it labored. 4 on the again proved to be strong and unyielding – their resistance solely undone by a second of pure genius from Marcus Rashford. Then, instantly, the shackles have been off. Gareth Southgate’s expenses have been right here to play. Wales tried to place the brakes on, however discovered themselves two behind earlier than the cheers from Rashford’s opener had even dissipated.

England’s mindset shifted. They turned purposeful and expressive and Wales have been powerless to stop their unravelling. “The trouble the gamers put in off the ball was distinctive,” Rob Web page mirrored, which says every thing about their ill-fated recreation plan. Maybe it was the pragmatic play. However providing one shot on track – Kieffer Moore by way of the pinnacle of Harry Maguire – was by no means going to be sufficient to harm England. This was a knockout tie and Wales headed out with a whimper.

“They’ve extra motivation to play in opposition to England,” Southgate mentioned within the preamble, however that obvious urge for food by no means reared its head on the night time. The pre-game chatter was all meaningless noise in spite of everything.

The writing was on the wall when talisman Gareth Bale didn’t reemerge for the second interval. Of all of the gamers to have began three video games on the match, solely Almoez Ali of Qatar (71) has had fewer touches of the ball than Wales’ captain (77). “It simply did not occur for us this match,” Bale summarised. Their 64-year look ahead to a World Cup look has certainly met its disappointing finish. It stays to be seen if Bale’s Wales chapter has concurrently reached its pure conclusion.
Laura Hunter

On the proof of the group stage, pre-World Cup reviews of the US’ demise seem to have been enormously exaggerated and one factor is for certain – the Netherlands had higher not underestimate Gregg Berhalter’s facet of their last-16 conflict on Saturday.

The US deservedly overcame Iran of their remaining Group B conflict due to a second successive World Cup clear sheet and Christian Pulisic’s close-range end, though the Chelsea ahead was injured within the technique of scoring and worryingly forward of the weekend showdown, needed to be substituted at half-time.

However make no mistake about it, it is a well-drilled outfit, with tempo in assault, out large and within the centre of the park and no scarcity of method to go together with that as seen within the spectacular shows up to now in Qatar from the likes of captain Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Pulisic and Timothy Weah.

However whereas the Oranje are undoubtedly a step up at school from dealing with Wales and Iran, the US have already proven in holding England to a goalless draw that they’re greater than able to mixing it with the so-called Large Boys of worldwide soccer.

So don’t be shocked have been the US to make life very uncomfortable for Louis van Gaal and Co on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium this weekend, a lot as they did to much-fancied Belgium the final time they made it via to the World Cup knockouts in 2014.
Richard Morgan

Senegal’s presence within the final 16 owes loads to their large gamers. Within the absence of the injured Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarra and Iliman Ndiaye stepped as much as assist Aliou Cisse’s facet overcome Ecuador. Anticipate them to trigger issues for England too.

Sarr was essentially the most impactful of the 2, successful the penalty for the opener then scoring it himself. The foul, dedicated by Piero Hincapie, was certainly one of eight gained by Sarr over the course of the sport.

Ecuador could not deal with the Watford winger, his pace and directness guaranteeing it was a gruelling night for right-back Angelo Preciado, mercifully substituted within the closing levels having in some way prevented a reserving regardless of six separate infractions.

Solely Neymar has gained extra fouls than Sarr in a single recreation at this World Cup and, over on the alternative facet, Ndiaye, a Championship rival of Sarr’s with Sheffield United, and one other participant who absolutely belongs within the top-flight, was equally spectacular.

The 22-year-old was making his first begin for Senegal having solely damaged into their squad this yr however, having grabbed a late help as an alternative within the win over Qatar, he picked up the place he left off on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.

Like Sarr in opposition to Preciado, Ndiaye induced critical issues for Estupinan.

He accomplished 4 dribbles in complete – essentially the most by any participant within the recreation – and in addition popped up in harmful positions within the Ecuador field, additional destabilising their creaking defence.

Senegal have weaknesses. Their play lacks cohesion at instances and even Qatar have been capable of finding a means via their defence at this match. However even with out Mane, Sarr and Ndiaye guarantee there may be tempo, creativity and aim menace on the flanks.
Nick Wright

Oh, what might need been? All Ecuador needed to do was keep away from defeat, as that they had completed in opposition to the group’s hardest opponents the Netherlands final outing, however they could not see it via to achieve the final 16.

For no matter cause, supervisor Gustavo Alfaro insisted on altering system once more from the 4-4-2 that beat Qatar and the 3-4-3 which held the Netherlands to a 4-3-3. Even earlier than kick-off, it was seen as a daring step and proved to be one which backfired spectacularly.

Ecuador’s pure width got here from their full-backs, Angelo Preciado and Pervis Estupinan, however their propensity to get ahead left them uncovered in behind and will’ve seen them 2-0 down inside 10 minutes.

It took 44 minutes for Senegal to breach their backline in the long run, however that was sufficient to drive Alfaro into an embarrassing half-time climbdown.

Alan Franco and Carlos Gruezo, who had been named within the Ecuador beginning line-up for the primary time within the match, have been each taken off on the interval.

Their withdrawal was accompanied by one other change in form – again to the 4-4-2 that they had used in opposition to Qatar. Immediately they have been sharper, faster and appeared much more comfy and competent.

However numerous the harm had already been completed. Senegal had the momentum constructed up from their first-half efficiency behind them, and a result in sit on.

Ecuador did get their all-important equaliser, however their opposition have been assured after greater than an hour on high and hit again immediately, with what would show the winner.

There’s by no means one cause for match failure and Ecuador’s gamers had sufficient high quality to present Edouard Mendy a a lot busier night time than he endured.

However having masterminded an outstanding level in opposition to the Netherlands to go away their future in their very own fingers, Alfaro’s tinkering performed a serious half of their early exit on Tuesday night time.
Ron Walker

Header, left foot, proper foot. Cody Gakpo is having the right match.

The Dutch ahead has three targets in three consecutive World Cup matches and is the primary cause why the Netherlands have cruised via to the knockout levels as group winners.

It is not simply the vary of the three separate targets that make him such an awesome expertise at 23 years outdated. He performs out large for his membership and centre ahead for his nation. He could be a penalty field presence however, as his aim in opposition to Qatar confirmed, he can come from deep and play additional again if required.

Tenacious, aggressive however blessed with aptitude, the ahead joins Kylian Mbappe on the high of the World Cup Golden Boot standings. It is glorious firm, contemplating that is first World Cup.

He reveals he has the total package deal – and possibly this World Cup, like Mbappe and James Rodriguez did earlier than him, is turning into his personal.

It will not be lengthy till one of many superclubs takes him off PSV Eindhoven’s fingers – it may probably occur within the January window.
Sam Blitz

Already out of the match after two video games, Tuesday night time was an opportunity for the host nation to keep away from some undesirable World Cup historical past in opposition to the Netherlands.

Sadly, they failed to take action. They turned the primary hosts to not choose up a single win or a even some extent within the group stage, whereas in addition they turned the primary ever particular person host nation to lose three matches at a single World Cup match.

Additionally they conceded seven targets, the outright most ever by a single host nation in the identical group spherical of an version of the match. Their plan to start a coaching camp in June clearly did not work.

For sure the present will very a lot go on with out them.