Rashford's Wembley Disappointment
Marcus Rashford experienced a night of profound frustration at Wembley Stadium, failing to capitalise on a golden opportunity to strengthen his case for England's World Cup squad. The 28-year-old forward, starting in place of the injured Anthony Gordon during Thursday's qualifier against Serbia, produced an underwhelming performance that did little to answer the questions surrounding his international credentials.
Tuchel's Warning Goes Unheeded
England manager Thomas Tuchel had previously delivered a stark warning to the gifted forward, emphasising that potential alone isn't enough at the highest level. "He has the potential but potential is a dangerous word with high-level sports," the German coach stated last month. "It's not a question of talent, it's a question of whether he can prove the point at club and international level."
This dead rubber World Cup qualifier against average opposition presented the perfect stage for Rashford to demonstrate he'd heeded that advice. With neither Ollie Watkins nor Cole Palmer - scorers of England's last two Euro 2024 goals - in Tuchel's final squad of 2025, the door stood open for the Barcelona loanee to secure his place for next summer's tournament in North America.
A Night of Missed Opportunities
Deployed on the left flank alongside debutant Nico O'Reilly, Rashford's promising club form failed to translate to the international stage. Despite scoring four goals in his last seven games for Barcelona and netting twice in his most recent appearance at Newcastle, the Manchester United forward looked out of sorts throughout the 64 minutes he spent on the pitch.
His difficult evening included miscontrolling an early chest pass, shooting straight at goalkeeper Pedrag Rajkovic when through on goal, and overhitting a counter-attacking pass to Declan Rice just before halftime. The second half brought no improvement, with his low shot deflected wide by teammate Harry Kane in what perfectly encapsulated his frustrating night.
The Bigger Picture for England
While Bukayo Saka demonstrated efficiency down the opposite flank, eventually scoring England's second goal, Rashford's performance highlighted England's concerning lack of depth behind captain Kane. The absence of Gordon's direct approach was noticeable in Tuchel's otherwise flat side, raising questions about the striking options available.
The statistics reveal a worrying trend for English forwards this season. Only Danny Welbeck and Callum Wilson have scored more than once in the Premier League, while Watkins - whose semi-final winner against the Netherlands at Euro 2024 remains fresh in memory - has managed just one goal and no assists this campaign.
Rashford's versatility could still work in his favour, with Tuchel previously suggesting both he and Gordon could fill the central striking role. However, as demonstrated by his treatment of Jude Bellingham, the England manager isn't afraid to make tough decisions regarding big names. With this performance doing little to cement his World Cup place, Rashford faces an uncertain international future despite what should be the peak years of his career.
