England 2-0 Costa Rica
Marcus Rashford put on a man-of-the-match performance for England tonight, sparking a comfortable 2-0 victory over Costa Rica with a great first half strike.
It was England’s last warm-up before heading off to World Cup 2018 in Russia, and coach Gareth Southgate can feel he has plenty in his armoury. With the main man Harry Kane rested, Marcus Rashford certainly took his chance. Second half substitute Danny Welbeck put himself in his coach’s thoughts too with a great poacher’s goal.
Highlights
The good Yorkshire folk of Leeds welcomed Costa Rica with open arms and there was a super atmosphere at Elland Road in Leeds, probably enjoyed by many of the same sport fans who partied up the road in Headingley, after England’s cricket team dispatched Pakistan last week. And Los Ticos will hope to light up FIFA World Cup 2018, as they did four years ago, but they won’t if they play like they did in the fist half!
If you thought England had an easy first 45 minutes against Nigeria at the weekend, then this was a case of déjà-vu. The Three Lions had it all their own way and, if anything, would have been slightly disappointed to go in to the break with a solitary goal. They dominated the ball but might have carved out more chances.
The three Lions started brightly and Phil Jones planted a header onto the top of the crossbar after just nine minutes. Manchester United’s Rashford was the stand-out player in the first half and he’s staked a claim to the supporting striker role at World Cup 2018, playing with real freedom, and frightening Los Ticos defenders every time he ran at them.
And they stood off, as he picked the ball up some 25 yards out and smashed it into the net on 13 minutes. It was a fantastic strike but Keylor Navas really should have stopped it, the Real Madrid keeper instead just flapping at the ball as it sailed into the net. Champions League winner or no – he’ll have to do better than that in Russia.
It could have been two on 20 minutes but Navas partly redeemed himself, blocking a Jamie Vardy effort from close range. That did prompt Costa Rica to come out of their half and Johan Venegas tried his luck from distance but it was an easy save for Jack Butland.
Raheem Sterling will have been watching Rashford’s performance with interest;
Gareth Southgate has indicated that every place at the finals is up for grabs and he’d be happy to play any one of the 23 players chosen. And this was a particularly proud night for 19-year-old Trent Alexander Arnold making his debut. The Liverpool youngster has a big future ahead of him and played the first half with real poise, with superb delivery from the wings and fantastic dead ball skills.
It wasn’t the Costa Rica which spanked Northern Ireland last week, but that may be a measure of just how good this young England side could become. And although they came out for the second half with a little more intent, Celso Borges trying to spark something, it was the home side which almost doubled the lead just before the hour. Jordan Henderson lashed a shot straight at Navas and from the ensuing corner Harry Maguire had an effort cleared off the line.
Southgate made changes midway through the second half, giving a debut to another proud young man, Burnley keeper Nick Pope, and he had a quiet enough time but had to react well, late in the game, to save a sharp angled drive from Matarrita.
And it was two other subs which linked up to double the lead on 76 minutes, Dele Alli crossing for Danny Welbeck to squeeze a header home.
The popular World Cup 2018 betting tips are focusing on Germany, Spain, France and Brazil but, and whisper it quietly, Gareth Southgate’s young Lions have something about them, unfettered by the fear which has hampered the big names in England’s recent past.
Key Statistics
With 63 per cent possession and six shots on target to Los Ticos three, England deserved this win. But the 90 per cent pass completion will have pleased Gareth Southgate particularly.
Oscar Ramirez’ Costa Rica has now lost five in seven while the Three Lions have gone ten games unbeaten. Can they possibly make it another seven?
Marcus Rashford shone brightly in the first half, but Danny Welbeck scored his eighth goal in his last 12 England games…some record.
What’s next?
It’s the real thing next for the Three Lions as they face up to Tunisia in Russia on the 18th June. Our handicap betting odds at SBOBET point to a win for Southgate’s boys in a tricky opener. Nabil Maaloul’s team has another warm-up against Spain in the meantime, and has recently beaten Costa Rica 1-0.
Los Ticos face another of Europe’s big guns when they travel to meet Belgium next week, before a tough World Cup opener against Serbia. And then it doesn’t get a lot easier for Ramirez’ men, with Brazil and Switzerland to come. On this performance it looks like a mountain to climb.
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