Goal hero feeling good after victory
ENGLAND goal hero Marcus Rashford said last night: “It’s obviously a great feeling.
“We were a little bit disappointed as a team after the last game against USA.
“I thought we could have played a lot better and the only way to bounce back from that is to have a good performance in your next game and I think we did that.
“First half, we defended brilliantly, we didn’t really give them any opportunities.
“And it was just about us killing the game off and taking the chances when they came.”
On his free-kick opener, Rashford added: “I fancied one in the first half but the one in the second half was in a better position.
“And from there, it’s just about being calm and trying to execute what you practice in training. They don’t go in often but I’m pleased that it went in today.”
Rashford said: “Moments like this, this is what I play football for. The biggest moments, the best moments.
“I’m really happy today, I’m happy that we’re going through to the next round. Hopefully we can build on this performance because I have massive ambitions for this team and I think we can play even better than we showed today.”
Wales manager Robert Page said: “It’s very tough at this moment in time.
“I thought first half we were outstanding. The effort they put in without the ball was exceptional.
“We addressed at half-time that we could be a little bit better with the ball but I won’t have a bad word said about that group of players.
“They’ve given everything today.
“The first goal is a wonderful strike, the second one disappoints me a little bit but I don’t want to talk about negatives today, the boys have put a shift in.
“We’re disappointed to leave the tournament but, if we’re going to go out, that’s the way to go out, that first-half performance was excellent.”
Christian Pulisic fired the United States into the last 16 of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Iran at Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar.
The Chelsea striker grabbed the only goal of the game in the 38th minute when he bravely stole in to convert a headed cross by Sergino Dest from point-blank range.
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