“What a feeling!” tweeted Marcus Rashford after making his World Cup debut, when he came on as a 68th-minute substitute in England’s 2-1 win against Tunisia. He did well enough to be optimistic of a start against Panama in the next game.”Proud day,” added older brother Dwaine, “this journey started 14 years ago and today we get the fruits of our labour. Well done Marcus.” “Last night was one the proudest moments of my life,” tweeted the tireless, if profligate, Jesse Lingard. “England’s number 7 at a World Cup.”
“What a start!” declared Ashley Young, the third Manchester United player wearing the red of England rather than Manchester, complete with an image of him running to celebrate the winner with Harry Kane. “The togetherness, mentality and strength of this team was unreal tonight.” Given the indifference that many Manchester United fans have for the English national side, it can be a surprise how much United’s English players love to play for their country. To them, it remains a huge honour and playing in the World Cup — no matter how much FIFA’s image has been tainted in recent years — is a proud moment.
They’ve often come through the England ranks as schoolboys and seen the majority of those they’ve played with not reach the full international side. It doesn’t matter that they’re representing a country that consistently underwhelms, they’re the survivors, the successes, the best players from a football-mad country of 53 million. Young, who took free kicks and whose corner led to the first goal, is from Stevenage, the type of small town from which England’s match-going support comes. You’re more likely to see a flag of St. George with “Stevenage” penned across it than a big city such as “Manchester” or “Liverpool” – that’s if FIFA hadn’t banned pitch-side flags at games.
Young’s return to the England side at 32 should be celebrated. He didn’t play for England between 2013 and 2017, and his recall was a reward for his solid club form. There’s hope for Luke Shaw yet. Shaw, who didn’t make the squad, tweeted good luck. His career has not gone to plan since he played for England in the last World Cup and he can’t have been surprised not to make the cut, though international selections can baffle. Michael Carrick was consistently overlooked, despite being the midfielder England needed after Paul Scholes stepped down.