Alan Shearer believes England and Manchester United star Marcus Rashford in World Cup Golden Boot race
Premier League icon Alan Shearer believes England and Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is in with a shout to win the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup. The 25-year-old currently has three goals for the Three Lions at the prestigious tournament in Qatar.
The forward started for Gareth Southgate’s team and played 76 minutes against Wales on Tuesday (29 November) at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Going into the break, the two teams had been unable to find the back of the net.
However, Rashford broke the deadlock in the second half. A few minutes after the restart, England were handed a free-kick which the 25-year-old beat Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward with.
Manchester City star Phil Foden managed to grab another goal seconds later after some shoddy defending from the Dragons. The Man United academy graduate managed to grab his brace after thumping a thunderous shot between the opposition defender and goalkeeper’s legs.
Apart from the two goals against Wales, Rashford also got on the scoresheet in the first game against Iran minutes after coming on as a substitute. He also had a great chance in the first after being sent through on goal by Harry Kane, but he didn’t convert it.
The Tottenham Hotspur star was the last England player to win the World Cup golden boot, doing so in the 2018 edition in Russia after scoring six times. Gary Lineker, in 1986, is the only other Three Lions star to get his hands on the coveted individual award.
Speaking after England’s victory over Wales on BBC One (h/t Manchester Evening News), Shearer, who scored 30 goals for the Three Lions in all competitions, was impressed with the 25-year-old’s displays at the World Cup.
“Marcus Rashford, what a second half he had. Just goes to show, wasn’t in the team at the start of the tournament, brings him on and scores, now look at him – joint top goalscorer at the World Cup and well in with a shout of the Golden Boot.”
Rashford has been brilliant for the Old Trafford side as well in the current campaign. Erik ten Hag has preferred the 25-year-old in the number nine position. The forward has turned into the Red Devils’ talisman this season.
However, while the Man United academy graduate has been decent this term, he leaves a lot to be desired in front of goal. Against the Dragons, Rashford was one on one with the goalkeeper early on in the first half but was unable to help his team take the lead.
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It remains to be seen how much more game time the 25-year-old is afforded in Qatar and how far England are able to go. Hopefully, he does not pick up an injury during the tournament and comes back to Manchester stronger.
