sport news SAMI MOKBEL: How can Gareth Southgate drop Marcus Rashford after this and what ... trends now
Now then Gareth, how do you solve this riddle? Decisions, decisions, decisions.
As he so often does, the England boss found the Midas touch in terms of his team selection against sorry Wales.
Marcus Rashford scored. Twice. Phil Foden, the national team boss’ other big call of the evening, also got on the scoresheet.
Marcus Rashford put in a man-of-the-match display after being handed a starting role
But when the euphoria of this victory subsides on Wednesday morning, Southgate will have an almighty problem to solve.
One of those ‘nice’ problems that all managers say they enjoy having. But a problem, nonetheless.
Because you have to wonder where Rashford’s sublime performance here in Doha leaves Raheem Sterling.
Unquestionably the biggest omission from the starting XI to face Wales last night, Sterling’s position in England’s plans will now come under major scrutiny.
A genuine world class talent who, alongside Harry Kane, is widely recognised as England’s most influential attacker.
Rashford scored two brilliant goals as England secured top place in their group
There was no sense of sulking from England’s No 10, he was one of the first over to congratulate Rashford after he stroked home his beautifully executed free-kick to give his team the lead.
But omitting Sterling for a World Cup group game with passage to the knockout out stages virtually assured is one thing.
Doing so for a last-16 tie against Senegal is something entirely different.
But how can you drop Rashford after this? Answer: you can’t.
If Southgate, as he alluded to last week, selects his team based on the values of meritocracy then surely Sterling will spend longer on the bench than he or Southgate may have envisaged.
Raheem Sterling has been a regular starter under Gareth Southgate but didn't feature
Big games are made for big players - footballers don’t come much bigger than Sterling.
But Rashford has provided his international boss with one hell of a dilemma to resolve.
When England shaped up for their final training session at the
