Qatar November 30, 2022: This time the video nasty was on Wales. “Battle of Britain”? It was a mismatch from start to finish, barely a skirmish, with England earning the points to win Group B and set up a last-16 tie against Senegal on Sunday and with Marcus Rashford the rejuvenated driving force. He put the Welsh to the sword.
Little wonder Rashford was hugged so enthusiastically by Gareth Southgate as he was eventually substituted – with a huge grin spreading across the 25-year-old’s face.
What a comeback. Not so long ago Rashford was nowhere near this England squad and was an injury-plagued, confidence-shattered husk of the player he once was. Now he is suddenly vital and has three goals to make him joint top-scorer at this World Cup. And this was his first start.
What happens next? Can Southgate leave him or Foden out? He has so many options with Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish. But, on this form, Rashford surely must play having finally found his way back for his club, Manchester United, and now his country. It is a heart-warming story as only sport can deliver.
For Wales it is sadly over. Even reaching this tournament, for the first time since 1958, was a hugely proud achievement for a nation of just three million but trying to make it through to the knock-out stages proved a bridge too far.
Their team lacks quality, their stars are too old or injury-affected and while England will not gloat, the way Wales did when they were shockingly dumped out of Euro 2016 by Iceland in that leaked video, there was the quiet satisfaction of job done and therefore a small slice of revenge.
Their fans revelled in it, though.
“Going home in the morning,” they goaded while also singing “jingle bells” and loudly serenading Southgate. Afterwards the PA announcer even played Sweet Caroline. The goalless draw against the United States last Friday? Forget about it. The group winners have seven points, nine goals and two clean sheets. Not bad, at all as England topped a World Cup group for the first time since 2006.
For Southgate there was further contentment with his tactics – poor in-game management is something he has been criticised for in the past – and his team selections all working. They included a smart change with Rashford and Phil Foden, the two attackers he brought in as he refreshed his forward line, switching flanks at the start of the second half and then scoring 98 seconds apart and also being involved in the other’s goal. Rashford would score again and should have had a hat-trick.
For Wales, Gareth Bale was subbed off, after only seven ineffective touches, and suffered a tight hamstring. Will he be seen playing for his country again? Bale says he will but he has struggled out here.
Southgate, meanwhile, had the luxury of withdrawing Harry Kane, Declan Rice and the fit-again Kyle Walker before the hour to rest them for the next encounter with Luke Shaw, his only recognised left-back, soon following. It could not have gone better.
After a first-half of numbing frustration – when Rashford wasted the only chance – but also firm control from England it all changed in those handful of seconds. Quite literally. England scored once. Then twice and it was game over. Foden was the catalyst with a turn of pace and a superb dribble that only he can do in this squad which took him away from Aaron Ramsey and substitute Connor Roberts with Joe Rodon panicking and hacking him down.
Twenty-five yards out the opportunity presented itself for a free-kick at goal and Rashford grasped it, sending his right-foot shot fiercely arcing high beyond the grasp of goalkeeper Danny Ward. Rashford had still appeared lacking in belief in the first period and so his celebrations were wild before he sunk to his knees and raised his eyes heavenwards for a private moment of contemplation.
That is tournament football. Stay patient, structured and take your chances. Block out the external noise.
The goal transformed Rashford and he forced the opportunity for the second goal as he quickly closed down Ben Davies with the ball rebounding to Kane.
The captain really is the best passer England have and he swept a smart low cross to the far post with Foden joyfully meeting it to tap home.
There may be no goals at this tournament, so far, for Kane – just as with the group stages of the Euros last summer before he exploded – but he has three assists and remains England’s focal point.
Rashford was not done. Kalvin Phillips, who had replaced Rice, hoisted the ball down the right flank to allow Rashford to run at Roberts. There was more disarray from Wales with Rashford cutting inside and shooting through Rodon’s legs – and then through Ward’s – to find the net and claim England’s 100th goal at a World Cup.
England had not let the rhetoric, the echoes of the old Home Championships and the desire to makem this a scrappy local affair faze them. They were focussed with Jordan Henderson, another shrewd selection barking at his team-mates to close down quickly as he brought his experience to bear alongside the wonderful young tyro Jude Bellingham.
Southgate wanted to channel the emotion, not ignore it, and England did just that. Wales looked set up to attack – as they needed to win – but they did not even attempt it until the game was over. In fact if Wales had dropped any deeper they would have been in among the Red Wall of their supporters. It is not their fault. They just do not have the players or the depth.
England do. Senegal will be a tough proposition but there is strength and quality to this England squad as Rashford and Foden proved in staking their flair-filled claims.
Match details
Wales: Ward, Williams (Roberts, 36), Davies (Morrell, 59), Mepham, Rodon, Allen (Colwill, 81), Ampadu, Bale (Johnson, 46), Ramsey, James (Wilson, 77), Moore.
Booked: James, Ramsey.
England: Pickford, Walker (Alexander-Arnold, 57), Stones, Maguire, Shaw (Trippier, 65), Rice (Phillips, 58), Bellingham, Henderson, Rashford (Grealish, 76), Kane (Wilson, 58) Foden.
