Still hope, Sanchoh
IF MARCUS Rashford and Jadon Sancho were tempted to book themselves a winter break in November, the last two weeks watching England will surely have changed their minds.
Before the disastrous quartet of UEFA Nations League games, the Manchester United duo may have believed all seats were filled for the plane to Qatar later this year.
Now, the pair may be back in the running for a World Cup reprieve with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate no longer certain of his squad.
Rashford’s already wasted no time sending a message to incoming Dutch coach Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
The striker jetted out to California at the end of the season to wed girlfriend Lucia Loi. But it wasn’t all sun and surf as Rashford, sporting a ripped physique, posted a 90-second gym video of him working out with weights.
With the new season six weeks away, it’s a statement of intent to Ten Hag and Southgate that he is determined to put last season’s poor form behind him.
Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland are big Rashford fans and know if the United attacker is fit and flying he will be a valuable asset.
But it is a big IF after the player’s recent performances.
Negativity
However, a powerful start by the 24-year-old star would put him right back in the frame for Qatar despite a year out of the England team. It would also dispel the negativity which surfaced during the last campaign, with suggestions his off-field activities took his focus away from football.
The last of his 46 caps was in the delayed Euro 2020 Final against Italy when he came on as a penalty-taking sub at the end of extra-time.
After successful kicks from Harry Kane and Harry Maguire, Rashford was third up but struck the post with his effort.
It was a pivotal moment in the shoot-out and subsequent misses by Sancho and then Bakayo Saka with the final kick condemned England to defeat.
Unlike Rashford (below), Sancho played again after the Euros, against Andorra in October last year but hasn’t figured in the squad for the last nine games. He too has been working out while on holiday in America – and has much to prove in the coming months.
When he signed from Borussia Dortmund for
£73 million last summer Sancho had scored 16 goals and provided numerous assists in his last season in Germany.
Instead of kicking on he was dragged into United’s downward spiral, although at times showed the kind of exciting ability Ten Hag will hope to exploit. Southgate has only two more warm-up games before Qatar– against Italy and Germany in September – and he will be watching the United duo closely.
But they are not the only ones who may have found a silver lining in England’s Nation League meltdown.
With creativity sadly missing, former England stars Jesse Lingard, a free agent after ditching United, and even Everton’s Dele Alli may be dreaming of a return to the fold if they can hit the ground running. But it’s in attack where Southgate suddenly has big problems after a failure to score a single goal from open play in four games.
That’s alerted Goodison star Dominic Calvert-lewin, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and injuryhit Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, who have all won England caps in the last year.
In the space of 11 days Southgate has seen his blueprint for success torn up – and a World Cup now beckons for those who thought their chance had gone.
Southgate’s dire Nations League run means
door opens for Jadon and United pal Rash