Rashford reveals Ron inspiration ahead of Brazil clash
LONDON: Watching Brazilian striker Ronaldo score a Champions League hattrick for Real Madrid against Manchester United 14 years ago provided a lasting inspiration for Marcus Rashford, the England forward said.
Speaking before England host Brazil in a friendly at Wembley today, Rashford said he was a fiveyearold spectator at Old Trafford when Real knocked United out 65 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
After the game, he and his brother Dwaine began scouring YouTube for clips of the Brazilian.
“It’s all those clips ... and my first ever game that I saw live, he was playing in it. I always remember it. It was in 2003 and he scored a hattrick,” Rashford, who has netted seven times for United in all competitions this season, told British media.
Rashford came in for high praise from Ronaldo in the buildup to last year’s European Championships, when the Brazilian World Cup winner said the 20yearold Englishman reminded him of his younger self.
“He was my brother’s favourite player – that’s why I’ve grown up watching so much of him and his games ... So when you know he’s saying good things about you then it really stands out,” Rashford said.
England, who won eight of their 10 World Cup qualifying games and were unbeaten in Group F, held world champions Germany to a goalless draw in a friendly on Friday. — Reuters