One of the biggest frustrations felt by fans after England lost to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals was that he did not feature in the competition sooner. This was a measure of how well Marcus Rashford did in the tournament. Bench.
Rashford scored three goals in just 137 minutes for Qatar, his first coming just 49 seconds after making his debut in England's opener against Iran. His next two goals, including a stunning free kick, secured a 3–0 win over Wales to send them through to the round of 16.
But the change came too late against France, with Gareth Southgate waiting until the 85th minute to bring on his most talented striker, and England ended up losing 2-1. Harry Kane's missed penalty was 'only' the biggest one, but the delay on Rashford was another.
After a period in the international wilderness, his call-up to the tournament came midway through Manchester United's stellar season. He scored 30 goals in all competitions, winning the Player of the Year award and netting a new five times. years deal.
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Sky Sports senior reporter Rob Dorsett provides more details on why Marcus Rashford was missing from Gareth Southgate's temporary England squad for the Euros.
How quickly things have changed. Less than a year later, with Rashford seemingly facing an uncertain future at Manchester United, he was out again and England manager Southgate had no place for him in his 33-man provisional squad for Euro 2024.
The player who graced England's last major tournament appearance just a year and a half ago, when he was ostensibly in his prime as a 26-year-old, will play no role at all in this tournament.
The most horrifying thing is that it isn't all that surprising. Rashford is not the only Manchester United player to have lost form this season. But his appearance was especially stark considering the heights he had previously scaled.
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Paul Merson was shocked by Rashford's absence from England.
With a total of eight goals and five assists in 42 appearances, his Premier League productivity has fallen to its lowest point since the 2016/17 season. And that’s saying something considering the extent of his struggles in 2021/22.
Of course, it is not easy to shine in such a dysfunctional Manchester United team. Rashford clearly lacked the drive and confidence of last season. However, there is an argument to be made that his struggles are to some extent a symptom of the circumstances surrounding the side.
Rashford was so prolific last season, in part because he played almost as much time up front as he did on the left. The ratio changed with the addition of Rasmus Hojlund in the summer.
Rashford's shot map shows he is getting far fewer chances, especially in his most dangerous positions. Consider that he has only attempted one attempt inside the six-yard box, down from 11 last season. His overall number of shots per 90 minutes has dropped by a third.
However, when it comes to off-the-ball activities, mitigating circumstances are more difficult to find. Rashford's work rate has come under scrutiny since his numbers slumped across the board following some immature pressing footage against Luton in February that went viral.
According to Opta, Rashford is applying less pressure and pressure in the final third. Tracking data shows he's covering slightly more ground than in any of the previous three seasons, but averaging fewer sprints. His intensity has definitely dropped.
““I don’t know how to say it, but something seems wrong,” he said. sky sports April expert Gary Neville. “He doesn’t look right. And it’s not just that he’s not good at football, he doesn’t look happy.”
His relationship with some parts of Manchester United's fan base is becoming increasingly strained.
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Rashford has been criticized for his indifferent off-the-ball play.
His last start was a penalty shoot-out win over Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final last month, which ended with him being booed by some supporters as he was substituted with an apparent injury following recent inept displays.
Ultimately, when he returned to the Manchester United squad for the recent win over Newcastle, he got into a heated argument with a fan while warming up.
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Erik Ten Hag has dismissed the exchange between Marcus Rashford and a fan before the recent game against Newcastle.
His on-field struggles have been compounded by disciplinary issues, including an unauthorized trip to Belfast in February where he reported feeling unwell in training and visited a nightclub after the defeat to Manchester City in October. apologize.
Rashford later tried to defend himself, admitting he had made a mistake. The Players' TribuneHowever, he rejected accusations of a lack of commitment to Manchester United and his treatment was questioned by some sections of the media.
Certainly Rashford is scrutinized more closely than most players. There can be no justification for some of the abuse heaped on him, especially on social media, after missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.
Rashford had a poor season at Manchester United.
There was a period out of the international side after that tournament, but Southgate stuck with him despite poor performances in the first half of this season after the World Cup, naming him in the squad for September, October and November. And most recently, England's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March.
But looking back, you'll see that his 15-minute cameo appearance against Brazil was his only time in that game.
Southgate has now added Anthony Gordon as an option on the left. He needs to find a way to get Manchester City's Phil Foden into his starting lineup. Jack Grealish is still valuable, and there's also the emerging Cole Palmer to consider.
All of this has left Rashford aside.
His electrifying talent was more evident than ever during England's final appearance in a major tournament. However, it will not appear at all in this work. In fact, it wasn't something that stood out throughout the season.
