England returned to winning ways after three successive defeats as Marcus Rashford’s second-half volley gave them victory over Switzerland in a scrappy and subdued friendly at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.
Manager Gareth Southgate made nine changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Spain in the Uefa Nations League game at Wembley on Saturday – and for long periods it showed.
Switzerland were the better side in the first half and Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri should have given them the lead early on, only to strike the post after England goalkeeper Jack Butland’s poor clearance played James Tarkowski into trouble.
England, as they had to do, improved after the break and the decisive goal came in the 54th minute when Rashford arrived at the far post to turn in Kyle Walker’s cross after Switzerland failed to clear a corner.
Rashford was one of those in Southgate’s squad hoping to use the Nations League game against Spain and this friendly with Switzerland to provide a reminder of his worth for his country and perhaps kick-start his season at club level.
Manchester United’s 20-year-old forward has only played 122 minutes for his club this season, has not started since the opening game against Leicester and was sent off after coming on as a substitute in their last game at Burnley.
Rashford put all that behind him to emerge as one of the big winners in these two England games, showing he has the potential to ease the goalscoring burden on captain Harry Kane and proving what an important future role he has to play under Southgate.
He was England’s biggest threat against Spain, scoring their goal in the 2-1 defeat and also having chances to add more – and he was lively again here..
Rashford still has an understandable rawness about him but he also has pace, fearlessness and an eye for goal.
He was the beneficiary of Raheem Sterling’s absence through injury and has given manager Southgate food for thought with two goals in two games, especially as the Manchester City forward has gone 26 games without hitting the target at international level.
