These are the moments when it is probably wise to remember – this being England, after all– that it is never sensible to overdose on optimism before a World Cup actually starts. Yet there are at least grounds for positivity and increasingly there is a sense that Gareth Southgate’s players are high on confidence, capable of putting together some vibrant football and not showing any obvious signs of the end-of-season fatigue that has weighed them down before major tournaments in the past.
They fly to their base in Repino, on the Gulf of Finland, next Tuesday and Southgate is entitled to be encouraged after another satisfying win that will be remembered mostly for the spectacular first-half goal with which Marcus Rashford made it clear he was determined to press for a starting place when England arrive in Russia.
Written by Daniel Taylor at Elland Road
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/07/england-costa-rica-international-friendly-match-report under the title “Marcus Rashford thunderbolt sets England on way to win over Costa Rica”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
