WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Rash can still make his Marc
MARCUS RASHFORD has been told to keep the World Cup finals in his sights as he prepares for Under-21 duty following his omission from the England squad.
The 19-year-old striker was dropped by new manager Sam Allardyce for today’s qualifier against Slovakia. Rashford was one of the casualties from the squad that flopped so badly at the European Championship.
A contributory factor has been his lack of game time with United. Jose Mourinho has preferred Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial as his strike force with Rashford an impact substitute.
But Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate said: “To be part of the squad that goes to Russia should be his target – along with other players I have with me. It is not a demotion to be with the Under-21s, it is a chance to start matches.”
Example
Southgate believes that Thierry Henry is a shining example to Rashford as he looks forward to facing Norway in a UEFA U21 qualifier at Colchester on Tuesday.
Back in 1998, Henry picked up a World Cup winners’ medal with France – and was then replaced by Nicolas Anelka for much of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2000 in Belgium and Holland.
He failed to reproduce his best after moving from Monaco to Juventus and it was only after he rediscovered his form following a switch to Arsenal that Henry was back in the senior squad from the French Under-21 squad.
He then proceeded to help his country win the trophy AND he was nominated as the Player of the Tournament.
“That is a great example of what can be achieved,” said Southgate. “It was the same with Juan Mata with Spain. We have had players over the years who have been in both squads so there is no reason why Marcus should not carry on his development with us.” ENGLAND’S biggest problem at recent tournaments has been scoring goals, which is why I wanted to see a bold selection from Sam Allardyce. I was hoping that he would pair Harry Kane in a two up front with Daniel Sturridge and let them forge the sort of partnership that used to be so prevalent in English football. Cole and Yorke, Shearer and Sutton, Henry and Bergkamp… good forward pairings will trip off the tongue for years to come. Kane and Sturridge could be another, and I do hope that as the World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign progresses we get the chance to see it. Kane has started the season looking a bit leggy, as he did in France,France while hile SturridgeSt rridge is in need of a manager who can really work out what makes him tick.
Today’s game in Slovakia would have been the perfect opportunity for the two of them to work together, to help each other and show they really can click.
Instead, Allardyce has gone for Kane up top on his own and I have to say I’m underwhelmed at the line-up he has chosen for his first game.
Goodness knows what Jordan Henderson has done to deserve to get into the starting line-up. If Eric Dier is passing the ball sideways and doing the holding role, and Henderson as well, that leaves Raheem Sterling in good form and as the main supply route for Kane.
I don’t think Wayne Rooney is on his A-game as a No.10 despite the fact he has scored a goal and created two for Manchester United. And while Adam Lallana was a go-to guy for Roy Hodgson, he’s better coming of the bench for England than starting games.
Regular readers will know what I think of Dele Alli and I’d have liked to have seen him play just behind Kane and Sturridge.
He brings more dynamism to the team and, while I know his start to the season has been quieter than Rooney’s, I also know which one of them will have more