RASH CRACKER TO THE RESCUE
Marcus puts England back on track after his first-half blunder
Say what you like about international football, but in the manner of most things that are no fun whatsoever — camping, swimming the Channel — it does build character.
With almost his first touch of the game, Marcus Rashford made the mistake that caused England to concede their fastest goal since the farcical visit to San Marino in 1993. Had the scoreline stayed like that, it could feasibly have cost this team their World Cup berth. Then, 56 minutes later, Rashford redeemed himself, scoring the goal that should make qualifying a formality from here. His dead ball created the equaliser, too.
That requires mental fortitude, no matter the opposition. To earn the right to play Brazil or argentina in Russia next summer, a team must first battle their way through against the likes of Slovakia. England did that last night from a goal down, eventually turning in a display that was both accomplished and psychologically strong. They had 23 shots at goal, their most in 12 matches.
Rashford was at the forefront of that. Still an international novice — and at times it showed — he could have shrunk after the error that ended with Slovakia’s thirdminute goal. Instead he responded superbly. It was his corner that set up Eric Dier’s leveller, his boot that defeated Slovak goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for the winner.
In between, he conjured several decent chances and moments of creation, never stopped running, never stopped looking for the ball and never tired of seeking opportunity. It was a coming- ofage display by the teenager.
There was pressure here, have no doubt of that. Only two points separated these teams at kick-off and England were coming off probably the most underwhelming 4-0 victory in football history — a performance in Malta that saw Gareth Southgate having to defend his players against the accusation they did not care.
This then started horribly. Not only were England behind after three minutes, they were outplayed for the first 15. at one stage there seemed a genuine possibility they might tumble to their first defeat in a meaningful qualifying game since the fateful 3-2 against Croatia in 2007. So to rise above that took courage.
Now, they need two points from a home match with Slovenia and a visit to Lithuania to guarantee qualification. Barring unlikely disaster, Rashford’s winner as good as ensured England will be in Russia next summer.
It was neatly done, too. Jordan Henderson — captain again — laid the ball off to Rashford, who took a rugby-style step to size up the target before striking a dipping shot from just outside the area. Defeating Dubravka, it put England in control at last after some scares. Just four minutes earlier, Joe Hart had made an excellent save, tipping a shot from adam Nemec over the bar — a fine way to equal Gordon Banks’s tally of 73 England caps. after Rashford’s goal, however, England looked increasingly comfortable, a feeling of confidence Southgate will be hoping can be carried into the next match here on October 5.
There was a strange atmosphere when the game kicked off, though, and not just because of the confusion outside the stadium. Ticket and security issues left thousands the wrong side of the turnstiles when the match began, but that did not explain all the empty spaces. In the upper tier, a giant swathe of unoccupied red seats told of the growing disillusionment with international football, and the national team. a full house used to be taken for granted here.
Not any more. England’s stuttering qualification campaign had made this, if not must win, then certainly must not lose, but even that did not inspire the crowds. They would have been far from taken with what unfolded after just three minutes, too.
It was a mistake by people’s choice Rashford that caused the goal. Media and public opinion has been widely supportive of putting the Manchester United man in the starting line-up — most popularly in place of Raheem Sterling. Slovakia’s goal showed Rashford still has some way to go, however, before he has the experience to be wholly relied upon in all areas of the field.
Trying to dribble out of trouble deep in his own half, he was apprehended by Slovakian pair Tomas Hubocan and Stanislav Lobotka. Ganging up on him, they emerged with the ball, Lobotka feeding it in to Nemec and continuing his run. Nemec chipped it into his path and Lobotka finished smartly, the ball passing beneath the raised left arm of Hart. It would have been harsh to blame him, however.
Was it a fluke? No fluke. Lobotka — who joined La Liga side Celta Vigo this summer — was running the play and with 15 minutes gone, Slovakia had enjoyed threequarters of possession. Only slowly d did England emerge from their state of shock and begin getting back into the game.
Harry Kane and Dele alli had shots deflected wide — the latter picked out by Rashford — yet England remained unconvincing, making bad choices in good positions. In the 21st minute, alex Oxlade-Chamberlain burst down the left but with Kane and alli on, he hit an ambitious and selfish shot high over the bar.
So it continued. Rashford had a low shot bobble wide before, in the 37th minute, an old-fashioned setpiece gave England the equality they just about deserved. Rashford takes the corners, with varying degrees of success, but this was simply targeted and worked well. From the right, he curled it towards the near post, where Dier had darted in sharply and found space. Maybe the plan was to flick it on, but Dier went for broke, diverting the ball perfectly into the top corner — Lobotka stranded and powerless defending the line.
It gave England the fillip they needed. Oxlade-Chamberlain and alli went close in the second half, too, before Southgate opted to shut the game down. Rashford left the field with seven minutes remaining to a fully deserved standing ovation. as a 19-year-old veteran of the Iceland debacle, however, he will know it only gets tougher from here.