Marcus Rashford struggled to impact the game against Andorra.placeholder image
Marcus Rashford struggled to impact the game against Andorra. | Getty Images
England stumbled to victory over Andorra as many players flattered to deceive
England fans were hardly left hooked with excitement on Saturday afternoon as Thomas Tuchel’s men overcame minnows Andorra 2-0 in a drab encounter at Villa Park.
It was a familiar tale early on in the German’s reign as Three Lions manager, as a positive result was achieved against inferior opposition but without any real optimism that this England side are capable of taking it to some of the very best in the world at the World Cup next summer.
Noni Madueke forced an own goal off Christian Garcia in the first half, before Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice sealed victory in the second period. Otherwise, there was little to shout about as several attacking stars missed key opportunities and failed to impose themselves on the game.
Marcus Rashford was given the chance to start by Tuchel and flattered to deceive, showing one or two flashes but ultimately failing to do himself any favours to justify his selection when the likes of Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer return from injury. The Barcelona man, on loan from Manchester United, aims to earn a spot on the plane next summer after failing to make the cut for Euro 2024.
Rashford earned mixed reviews from the British media following the result. Some news outlets praised his start to the game and rated him higher than some team-mates such as Eberechi Eze, while others questioned Rashford’s lack of real impact on the game.
UK media react to Marcus Rashford performance
The Telegraph rated Rashford a 5/10 and reflected the inconsistency in his performance, saying: “Ran at the Andorrans with pace but struggled to keep control of the ball, sometimes running into trouble. His delivery needed to be better. Bukayo Saka gets back into the team when he is fit. Rashford needs to make himself a Barcelona starter and to seize his chance in future England camps.”
Meanwhile The Standard were slightly more generous, giving Rashford a 6/10: “Missed a great chance early in the second half, when he curled an effort wide from inside the box. Fine, but no fireworks.”
BBC Sport echoed this sentiment as they praised Rashford’s start to the game and rated him a 6/10: “Made a positive start, beating two players with great pieces of skill. Had a big chance to score after picking up a rebound from Eze's shot but fired wide. Substituted in second half.”
The Sun gave Rashford credit for his work-rate but only rated him a 5/10: “Had a golden chance to put England 2-0 up shortly after the break, following up a saved Eze shot, but somehow missed the target. The Barcelona loanee was full of running, in fairness, but lacked the guile to cause problems, which is a concern if Tuchel is going to persevere with him.”
Sky Sports were more optimistic with their ratings, giving Rashford a generous 7/10 while Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson earnt a 9/10 on his England debut.
While Mail Sport reflected this same inconsistency with a rating of 6/10: “Electric first few minutes when he relentlessly attacked his marker, then flitted in and out of the game. Appeared sharper before then coming off.”
The Mirror gave Rashford a 6/10, the way he “faded away” reflecting a forgettable evening overall: “Fans at Villa Park probably wished they had gone to see Coldplay at Wembley instead. In the end, England got the job done against Andorra, ranked 174th in the world. [Rashford] started well but faded. He missed a great chance in the second half.”
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