SUNDERLAND: Roy Hodgson insisted Marcus Rashford’s dream debut for England came as no surprise after the Manchester United sensation staked his claim for a Euro 2016 place with a record-breaking strike in a 2-1 win over Australia.
England manager Hodgson had claimed the world would be watching to see if Rashford could cope with the pressure of what amounted to a one-game audition for a place in his final 23-man squad for the Euros.
And Rashford took just 135 seconds to deliver an emphatic response as the teenage striker’s lethal volley opened the scoring in Friday’s Euro 2016 warm-up at the Stadium of Light.
No player of such a tender age had ever found the net on his England debut and at the age of 18 years and 209 days, Rashford is behind only former Liverpool star Michael Owen (18 years and 164 days) and United captain Wayne Rooney (17 years 317 days) in the list of the youngest scorers in an England shirt.
“I was asked if I was nervous about putting him and if he could handle the situation. I wasn’t nervous or surprised with how he played. He tired a little in the second half but that’s normal for your debut. I asked in the build-up if he was up to playing at international level and we got a resounding yes from him. I’m pleased. We changed from the diamond (formation) to see if he could play in the wider positions and that was a further advantage. He was always one of the players who was seriously competing for a place in the 23 and he’s done his chances of travelling with us no harm, ” Hodgson said.
{{/usCountry}}“I was asked if I was nervous about putting him and if he could handle the situation. I wasn’t nervous or surprised with how he played. He tired a little in the second half but that’s normal for your debut. I asked in the build-up if he was up to playing at international level and we got a resounding yes from him. I’m pleased. We changed from the diamond (formation) to see if he could play in the wider positions and that was a further advantage. He was always one of the players who was seriously competing for a place in the 23 and he’s done his chances of travelling with us no harm, ” Hodgson said.
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