Rashford carries the same air of mystery for England’s Euro 2016 rivals and Rooney believes that his qualities can given Hodgson’s team an added edge in France.
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The Three Lions face Russian Federation in Marseille on June 11 and competition for starting places is fierce, particularly in attack, where Hodgson has five strikers to choose from.
Rashford, who signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United on Monday, only made his first-team debut on February 25, but scored eight goals in 18 club games to earn an worldwide call-up.
In this context odds of 3/1 on a road win and 23/10 on a draw warrant obvious consideration; however, it can not be overlooked that England were the only team to have progressed into the Euro 2016 Finals with a 100% (10/10) winning record in qualifying and they have beaten both Turkey and Australia 2-1 in pre-tournament friendlies over the last two weeks.
The Toffees duo join Merseyside rivals Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana in being named in Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016, while former Everton starlet Wayne Rooney is also included. Going into next season as a premier league champion! He showed what he can do on his first game for England’.
BBC Sport understands both took the news in a respectful, professional way and wished Hodgson and the team well.
By discarding Townsend, the “England manager has effectively retained the balance he had always anticipated for his squad with five strikers – plus Raheem Sterling, who can operate centrally if required – eight midfielders and seven defenders”, says the Guardian.
“We have regretted taking players who weren’t fully fit before, so I thought we would have learnt from previous mistakes”.
“I don’t want to commit myself to a team against Russian Federation in 10 days’ time”. What he does on the pitch a lot of the time goes unnoticed. Of believing in what I am doing, the Manchester City goalkeeper said.
Townsend finished the season in form for Newcastle even though he endured the pain of relegation with the Magpies. 110 caps down the line, I still get the same feeling playing for my country.
“Of course he’s very important like he would be for any other team in world, but (Thursday) is a good opportunity to play without him”.
Having initially meant to reveal his final selection on May 12, the England manager instead named a 26-strong group after the final round of Premier League matches in order to assess the fitness of some key players.
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Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph is also missing from the initial 26-man selection.
