England knock Wales out of World Cup with 3-0 win
Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden both scored to put England into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Wales at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar yesterday.
England coach Gareth Southgate opted to add both players in the starting line-up for the team’s final Group ‘B’ match and they responded with all three goals — two from Rashford and the other from Foden.
England will next face Senegal in the round of 16. Wales finished in last place in the group and has been eliminated.
Southgate had faced calls to freshen up his team after the 0-0 draw with the United States. He brought in Rashford and Foden into a new look attack and it worked.
England had the game wrapped up just after half time with Rashford scoring from a free kick in the 50th minute and Foden adding another in the 51st minute. Rashford got his second goal after a weaving run in the box in the 68th minute.
Wales, who needed a win and a helpful result in the other group game to continue their first World Cup adventure since 1958, did well to limit their opponents in the first half but never really threatened to spring the upset required.
Their first shot came in first half stoppage time and only a deflected long-range effort from Kieffer Moore made Jordan Pickford work in the England goal.
Gareth Bale managed just seven touches in that opening 45 minutes and was forced off with a hamstring injury at the break in what may prove to have been his final major tournament appearance for his country. He insisted afterwards he hoped to carry on but his next step will be a key talking point as Wales reflect on an impressive achievement to reach Qatar but also a bottom-place finish in the group and a first major tournament in which they have failed to win a match.
For England, though, the knock-out phase awaits, and Southgate will be encouraged by his side’s strength in depth, with Kyle Walker and Phillips gaining vital minutes on their returns from injury, and Foden and Rashford illustrating the array of attacking options at his disposal. (C.D)