Rashford can bend it like Beckham
England believe they have found a secret weapon in their quest for Euro 2016 glory — Marcus Rashford’s free-kicks.
|||England believe they have found a secret weapon in their quest for Euro 2016 glory — Marcus Rashford’s free-kicks.
The Manchester United youngster has impressed England’s coaching team with his ability from dead-ball situations.
Rashford, 18, is almost certain to be used sparingly during the tournament, coming off the bench as an impact substitute.
But don’t be surprised if you see the teenage sensation strike a free-kick or two during the tournament.
With the likes of Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata ahead of Rashford in the dead-ball pecking order at United, Rashford’s free-kicks are, for now, an untapped resource in the senior side.
But while he hasn’t been able to demonstrate his ability for the first team, he has struck for United’s Under 18s, scoring a brilliant free-kick against Tottenham Hotspur’s Under 18s in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup at White Hart Lane in 2015 (below).
And England boss Roy Hodgson will know Rashford could have a major impact if he turns to him in France.
Rashford’s free-kick technique has been described as having similarities with Cristiano Ronaldo’s in the way he can get swerve and dip on the ball simultaneously.
The striker, though, could have a fight on his hands to wrestle the ball off Rooney and fellow striker Harry Kane, who are currently viewed as England’s dead-ball specialists. – Daily Mail