Marcus Rashford was once again given a chance to prove himself, but he failed to capitalize on it. His recent performance suggests he might not be in the starting lineup for the World Cup next year.
Rashford`s underwhelming performance in the 3-0 victory against Latvia mirrored his struggles at the club level over the past two seasons.
Statistically, he created six chances, but his impact on the game felt minimal.
In the first half, the Manchester United player, currently loaned to Aston Villa, showed energy and pace, troubling Latvian defender Roberts Savalnieks.
He seemed to be responding to criticism from coach Thomas Tuchel, who urged him to be more direct after the Albania game.
However, the crucial final pass was missing. After switching to the right side in the second half, he barely touched the ball before being substituted.
Rashford isn`t the only England player who hasn`t performed well in the attacking third in recent matches.
However, the competition for the left-wing position isn`t as fierce as it once was.
Jack Grealish`s career has stagnated, and Phil Foden hasn`t consistently shone for England, even expressing discontent about playing on the left at Euro 2024.
Currently, Anthony Gordon might be the preferred choice for that position if the World Cup were imminent.
Eberechi Eze also made a positive impression on the left wing when he came on as a substitute, scoring England`s third goal.
Rashford still has a chance to prove himself, particularly as the national team coach appears keen to support him.
Tuchel has given Rashford starting opportunities in consecutive games, a rarity for him lately at both club and international levels, highlighting his diminished status.
He played for 74 minutes against Albania and slightly longer against Latvia.
Despite signing a short-term contract, Tuchel seems to favor experienced players like Rashford, who has now earned 62 caps for his country.
When announcing his squad, Tuchel praised Rashford`s work ethic at Villa, a quality often questioned during his time at United.
It`s still early in his Aston Villa loan spell under Unai Emery. In nine appearances, he has only started twice and hasn`t scored yet.
His last goal was in December for United against Everton.
Against Latvia, even when he got past his defender, his final pass was lacking.
Although he played a minor role in the buildup to Harry Kane`s goal after switching wings, he remained largely uninvolved.
Perhaps a lack of consistent playing time is contributing to fatigue.
Despite recent performances, Rashford is likely to be included in the England squad for the upcoming matches in June.
Considering his recent struggles, both on and off the field, Rashford is fortunate to still be in contention for the England team.
It remains to be seen if he can take advantage of this opportunity and regain his form.
