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Rashford fires England through a test of nerve in comeback victory
THE celebration told the story of Marcus Rashford’s night.
Joy mixed with relief at scoring England’s winner, which all but seals their place at next summer’s World Cup.
It was a world-class strike scored by England’s most exciting teenager and yet, for Gareth Southgate, it was also perhaps a crucial sign that his team is making progress.
Rashford came through the test, a mental test of being badly at fault for Slovakia’s opening goal, not letting his head drop but coming through with resilience.
The Manchester United teenager, 19, provided the assist for Eric Dier’s equaliser, kept going and then went off to a standing ovation after being substituted in the dying minutes.
Southgate grabbed Rashford as he trudged off, put his arm round the youngster’s shoulder, and whispered into his ear. It must have been one hell of a thank you.
The difference between this, with England hardly playing at their best, and the way they crumbled against Iceland at the last Euros is a major step forward.
Not just for Rashford but the whole team. England are not great but they are nothing without inner strength and belief. At Wembley, they showed real heart to dig deep and got the job done.
It means the Three Lions are now five points clear in the group, a point from sealing their place, with games against Slovenia and Lithuania to come, and their unbeaten run in qualifying matches now standing at a remarkable 19.
The manager will know England have a lot of work to do. Slovakia’s third-minute opener from Stanislav Lobotka was a bad goal to concede and the hosts were second-best at times.
But the response was strong and brave. Dele Alli stepped up to the plate, worked hard, tried to make things happen and, even though Rashford got the headlines and was the sponsors’ man of the match, England’s No.10 worked harder than anybody.
That is what England will have to do to bridge the gap to the top nations, if they are to even reach the quarter-final stage in Russia, as even that looks a big ask. But Southgate has at least come
through his first major test as Three Lions manager, winning his biggest game yet and holding his nerve when the rest of Wembley looked on nervously.
It was highlighted by Rashford’s early mistake. Trying to dribble away from his own box, he was closed down by Tomas Hubocan, Lobotka then nicked the ball and played a one-two with Adam Nemec.
Lobotka raced through onto the return pass, keeper Joe Hart was sluggish off his line, and the Slovakia midfielder put the ball past him and into the net.
The TV cameras instantly zoomed in on Rashford, head down and looking distraught. He tried hard – maybe too hard – to make amends, chasing, dribbling and driving forward. But it was Slovakia who were more comfortable, and England struggled to break them down until Harry Kane won a 37thminute corner. Rashford drilled the ball to the near post, Dier ran across the face of goal and swept it home. Hardly a classic but there was a collective sigh of relief at Wembley. England had an incredible let off as Kyle Walker brought down Vladimir Weiss in first-half injury time, when the former Manchester City forward went through. Walker could have received a red card and yet French referee Clement Turpin did not even give a foul.
It was a let-off which perhaps proved to be a game changer. England were much better after the restart, with Rashford, Alli and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all going close. Nemec forced a good save from Hart but it was England in control.
Rashford provided the winner. Alli made a crucial interception, Jordan Henderson drove forward, fed Rashford and he cut inside, before unleashing a low, 20-yard shot, which dipped and swerved into the far corner.