The pressure from the press and fans for the selections of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden paid off. With goals from the duo, England beat Wales 3-0, this Tuesday (29), and took first place in Group B of the World Cup.
The team will face Senegal next Sunday (4), at the Al Bayt stadium, for the round of 16.
The pressure for Foden, who had not played in the first two rounds, intensified after the team’s poor performance and lack of creativity in the 0-0 draw with the Americans. Able to play in different roles, Foden is an important part of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Rashford came on to make the attack more incisive and partner Harry Kane. He had chances in the first two games, but always coming off the bench. He scored on his debut against Iran.
Only if England suffered a thrashing, optimistic with its generation that is the current vice of the Eurocopa, would it run the risk of being eliminated.
Wales needed not only to win, but to hope that the match between the United States ended in a draw.
The disappointing performance of Gareth Bale, Welsh star, replaced at half-time, ended up being decisive in sealing the fate of the country that returned to the World Cup after 64 years. He didn’t hit a pass in the first 45 minutes and was a zero piece on the field. The main speed alternative, attacking midfielder Daniel James, did little.
Despite territorial dominance, England failed to open the scoring in the first half.
That would change at 5 of the 2nd half when Rashford, in a free kick technique he learned from Cristiano Ronaldo, hit the angle to score the first goal. Wales no longer had the strength to react and the match became a massacre.
Goals and chances ensued. Foden extended the next minute and Rashford scored again at 23. The rout could have been wider. The Rashford-Foden duo themselves missed two great opportunities.
The result alleviates the plight of coach Gareth Southgate, accused of wasting one of the best generations in English football history. This despite having taken the team to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, the best result of the team since 1990, and having placed it in an unprecedented Euro Cup decision.
The score also served as revenge for the selection’s athletes, irritated by a video posted on social networks in which Welsh players celebrate the elimination of their rival this Tuesday in Euro 2016.
“We would never celebrate another team’s disgrace,” commented full-back Luka Shaw.
The only moment that brought the two fans together at the Al Rayyan stadium was when the image of FIFA president Gianni Infantino appeared on the screen. He received a loud boo.
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