If places truly are still up for grabs in England’s starting line-up to face Tunisia in ten days’ time, then Marcus Rashford is surely in with a chance.
On a night where Gareth Southgate gave his second-string players a chance to play their way into England’s World Cup opener in Volgograd on 18 June, none impressed more than the Manchester United youngster, whose stunning 13th-minute strike sent England on their way to a dominant, if not emphatic, victory over Costa Rica.
Rashford was not the only one to stake a claim. Danny Rose was included after his full and frank revelations on the depression and personal tragedies that have blighted him this past year and impressed at left wing-back.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fabian Delph showed promise in midfield, Jordan Henderson held England together well behind them and there was a goal for substitute Danny Welbeck, the only outfield player in Southgate’s squad not to start either of these final warm-up friendlies.
Yet Rashford will be the one at the forefront of the England manager’s mind after not only a spectacular goal but also a bright all-round performance. The youngster may not have left it too late to displace Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling or another of the several attacking talents this squad can proudly boast.
England began Elland Road’s first international fixture since 2002 well, pinning and pressing the visitors in their own half but no player caught the eye more than Rashford, whose close control and fearless running caused Costa Rica problems from the very start.
What he and his team-mates lacked was space to shoot, with white shirts blocking off their initial advances, but once Rashford finally found room out on the right-hand side he sent a wicked, dipping effort over Keylor Navas and in.
One of several United players booed by small sections of the Yorkshire crowd before kick-off, Elland Road cheered Rashford’s name in unison now. It was only the third goal of an international career that is now into its third year, but it will give Southgate pause for thought.
If Rashford is to start in Volgograd on the back of this performance, it may mean that England retain the two-striker formation deployed here. His partner up top, Jamie Vardy, almost added a second goal some minutes after the first but the bounce on Harry Maguire’s downward header came awkwardly and Navas smothered at close range.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper was Costa Rica’s most involved player in the opening half, with his team-mates offering nothing but a Johan Venegas shot from range that was parried by Jack Butland. Other than that, England found it easy and their only regret at the interval was that for all their domination they had not tested Navas more.
Henderson, standing in as captain for Harry Kane, sought to put that right by lashing a bouncing ball from just outside the penalty area at the start of the second half, but Navas beat it away. Maguire sent a header goalwards from the resulting corner, only to see Bryan Ovideo, formerly of Everton, clear the ball before it could cross the line.
A deserved second finally arrived with quarter-of-an-hour to play. Rashford had a hand in it again, combining well with Alli on the left flank to pick through a tiring Costa Rican backline. Alli centered for Welbeck, who converted with a diving header to make the scoreline more reflective of England’s superiority.
