ENGLAND 2, AUSTRALIA 1
Marcus Rashford scores on his England debut in under 3 minutes
Wayne Rooney scores his 52nd goal for England
Eric Dier puts through his own goal
Marcus Rashford’s footballing fairytale continued with a goal on his debut as England beat Australia in their second warm-up match before the finals of Euro 2016.
The 18-year-old Manchester United striker made a dream start to his international career scoring after only 2min 18sec at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light to enhance his chances of making Roy Hodgson’s final cut of 23 players.
This was the last warm-up game before Hodgson has to name his squad and Rashford certainly staked his claim with doubts persisting over the fitness of Daniel Sturridge.
And at the moment everything young Rashford does turns to gold or in his case goals as he became the youngest England debutant to score since Tommy Lawton back in 1938.
Remarkably it is only 92 days since Rashford made his first appearance for United after Anthony Martial was injured in the warm up before the Europa League game against Midtjylland in late February.
He scored twice that night and has not looked back scoring eight goals in 18 appearances for the Reds.
And with Rashford’s team-mate Wayne Rooney, a player at the opposite end of the experience spectrum, also scoring, it was a good night for the United pair.
Hodgson was delighted for Rashford declaring: “What a debut. I was asked before the game if I was nervous about him handling the situation and whether he was capable of dealing with it, and the answer was a resounding yes. I am pleased for him.
“He was not out of place and may be tomorrow he will go out and chop down a few trees. I have decisions and choices to make.”
Hodgson added Rashford would not have been named in the squad of 26 if he did not feel he was capable of making the final cut of 23.
The England manager described it as a “tough game and stern test” and he was pleased with certain aspects of the game, especially the danger they posed on the break.
Rashford was one of eight changes to the England side that started Sunday’s friendly against Turkey.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Jack Wilshere were the only survivors.
Into the side came Fraser Forster in goal, Nathaniel Clyne, Ryan Bertrand and Chris Smalling into defence, Jordan Henderson, Danny Drinkwater into midfield with Lallana and Rashford providing attacking options.
The players standing down were Joe Hart, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Gary Cahill, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.
The Aussie side included Mile Jedinak who played for Crystal Palace in last weekend’s final of the FA Cup and QPR’s Massimo Luongo.
It quickly turned out to be a dream debut for Rashford who fired England ahead less than two-and-a-half minutes into his debut.
Rashford figured in the build up playing a pass to Sterling and then sprinting into the box to volley home his deflected cross from the angle of the six-yard box.
And it ought to have got even better for Rashford after quarter of an hour when he was put clean through by Sterling only to be let down by a poor first touch before he eventually ran overran the ball.
Rashford was also involved in another bright move on the half hour releasing Sterling who cut the ball back for Lallana whose shot was charged down.
England came close to scoring a second goal just before the break when Bertrand cut back a free kick for Henderson whose drive was well turned over by keeper Matthew Ryan.
Just as against Turkey on Sunday, England were bright attacking, but their defence was again brittle, despite the different personnel.
And you had the feeling a superior side to the Socceroos would have punished their slackness at the back as they were saved by a series of last-ditch challenges to avert danger.
England made two changes at the break as Rooney and James Milner replaced Lallana and Wilshere.
And Rooney didn’t take long to make an impact as he made it 2-0 in the 57th minute with his 52nd goal for England.
It came on a counter attack as Sterling broke down the left and played in Rooney who was clean through and, from the edge of the box, he fired a shot into the roof of the net.
Rashford made way for Ross Barkley midway through the second period as the United youngster left the field to rapturous applause.
England continued to impress going forward, but remained a worry defensively as Robbie Kruse capitalised on slack play only to see Forster to make an important save with his legs.
And that frailty surfaced again when the Socceroos halved the deficit in the 76th minute.
Substitute Milos Degenek fired over a probing cross from the right and Dier, who had replaced Smalling less than three minutes earlier, headed past Forster as he tried to clear the danger.
It was another win in the build up to the Euros, but as Hodgson has alluded to, there is still plenty to do and England are by far the finished article as was seen by their latest display.