Wales 0 England 3 reactions: Rashford roars as Three Lions win group

Marcus Rashford scored twice, including a superb free-kick, as England comfortably beat Wales 3-0 to finish top of World Cup group B. The Three Lions will now face Senegal in the round of 16 on Sunday.

Going into the final group game, England only needed a point to reach the World Cup knockout stages, while for Wales they had to win the match to stand any chance of qualifying. Billed as a “Battle of Britain”, it was anything but, said The Telegraph. This was “a mismatch” from start to finish and “barely a skirmish”.

The campaign in Qatar ended in huge disappointment for Robert Page’s Welsh team, who were making a return to the World Cup after 64 years. Wales finished bottom of the group as the USA secured second place following their 1-0 over Iran.

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Southgate’s ‘Midas touch’

After a lacklustre draw with the USA, England head coach Gareth Southgate made changes to his starting line-up, bringing Rashford and Phil Foden into the attack. And it was the Manchester-based duo who made the difference with the vital goals in the second-half.

Rashford was given “his chance” in the starting XI for the first time at this World Cup and “really, it was his night”, said David Hytner in The Guardian. The Manchester United forward’s first goal was a “fizzing free-kick” on 50 minutes which “veered away” from goalkeeper Danny Ward into the top corner. With his second in the 68th minute, and England’s third, he “simply had too much pace and balance” as he cut inside Connor Roberts and shot through the legs of Ward.

Also making his first World Cup start, Manchester City midfielder Foden marked his return to the team by firing in Harry Kane’s cross on 51 minutes. Foden’s strike came just a minute after Rashford’s free-kick opener and killed the game off as a contest.

By bringing in Rashford and Foden for Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka, England boss Southgate showed his “Midas touch” again, said Sami Mokbel in the Daily Mail. It’s left the Three Lions boss with a “nice” selection problem ahead of the Senegal clash and the big question now is “how can he drop Rashford after this?”.

Speaking after the match, Southgate was full of praise for Rashford after his two-goal display. “It’s great for him, he has trained really well,” he told the BBC. “He has been impressive since he came back to us, he could have had a hat-trick. That free kick is what he is capable of, it’s an incredible strike.”

A ‘sobering tournament’ for Wales

After losing to Iran in their second group game, Wales were needing a miracle to qualify for the knockout stages. However, there was to be “no more dreaming” in Qatar, said Ian Mitchelmore on WalesOnline. Against England, the Dragons “fully absorbed the harsh lessons” they had been taught on their “return to the big time”.

Page’s side have always “relied heavily on the inspiration” provided by captain Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, but the “two great figures of this fine era” for Welsh football “found this World Cup a step too far”, said Phil McNulty on the BBC. Those around them were “simply not of the quality” to make up for that deficit.

Taken off at half-time because of an injury, talisman Bale only had seven touches in an “anonymous display”, McNulty added. It was a “really, really sad end” to a desperately poor World Cup for Bale, said Tom Coleman on WalesOnline. For a man “who has given his all” for his country, it “shouldn’t have ended like this”.

Put out of their World Cup misery by England, this was a “sobering tournament” for Wales, Mitchelmore added. Following the “hefty defeat” to their neighbours, a “changing of the guard” ahead of Euro 2024 qualifying is now likely.