Marcus Rashford was given another opportunity by England`s manager, but once again, he failed to impress.
If you were to choose your starting eleven for the upcoming World Cup, Rashford likely wouldn`t make the cut based on current form.
The 27-year-old`s underwhelming performance in the 3-0 victory against Latvia mirrored his struggles at the club level over the past couple of seasons.
Statistically, he created six chances, but his impact felt minimal.
The Manchester United forward, currently playing for Aston Villa on loan, showed initial promise and positivity in the first half.
He used his speed to get past Latvia`s right-back, Roberts Savalnieks.
He seemed to be reacting to criticism from the manager for not being direct enough in a previous 2-0 win.
However, the crucial final pass was missing. After switching to the right side in the second half, he barely touched the ball before being substituted.
Rashford isn`t the only player who has struggled to make a significant impact in the final third in England`s recent uninspiring performances.
But competition for the left-wing position isn`t as fierce as it once was.
Jack Grealish`s career has stagnated, and Phil Foden hasn`t performed consistently for England, also expressing dissatisfaction with playing on the left during Euro 2024.
Currently, Anthony Gordon, who was injured for this match, might be the preferred choice for that left-wing role if the World Cup were imminent.
Eberechi Eze also showed promise on the left when he came on as a substitute and scored the team`s third goal.
Rashford still has a chance, largely because the national team manager appears keen for him to succeed.
The manager has started him in consecutive games, a rarity for Rashford both at club and international level over the past year and a half, highlighting his diminished status.
He played for 74 minutes against Albania and slightly longer in the recent match.
The manager, who is on a short-term contract, seems inclined to rely on experienced players like Rashford, despite introducing younger talents into the squad.
Rashford, earning his 62nd cap, fits into this experienced category.
When announcing his squad for these matches, the manager praised Rashford`s work ethic at Villa, a quality he was often criticized for lacking at United.
It’s still early in his loan spell with Aston Villa. In nine appearances, he has only started twice and hasn`t scored yet.
His last goal was for United back in December.
In the first half against Latvia, despite getting past his defender, Rashford`s final ball wasn`t effective.
After switching wings, he played a minor role in the buildup to England`s second goal, scored by Harry Kane, but otherwise remained largely uninvolved.
Perhaps fatigue due to limited playing time is a factor.
Despite this, Rashford is likely to remain in the England squad for the upcoming games in June.
Considering his recent struggles, much of which have been self-inflicted, Rashford is fortunate to be in the England squad at all.
It remains to be seen if he can capitalize on this opportunity.
