SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 SPORTS Rashford’s rise no surprise for England boss Hodgson

SUNDERLAND: Roy Hodgson insisted your debut. I asked in the build-up if Marcus Rashford’s dream debut for he was up to playing at international England came as no surprise after the level and we got a resounding yes Manchester United sensation staked his from him. “I’m pleased. We changed claim for a Euro 2016 place with a from the diamond (formation) to see if record-breaking strike in a 2-1 win over he could play in the wider positions Australia. England manager Hodgson and that was a further advantage. “He had claimed the world would be watch- was always one of the players who was ing to see if Rashford could cope with seriously competing for a place in the the pressure of what amounted to a 23 and he’s done his chances of travel- one-game audition for a place in his final ling with us no harm.” 23-man squad for the Euros. And Rashford took just 135 seconds Game changer to deliver an emphatic response as the Just three months ago, Rashford, teenage striker’s lethal volley opened who earns only £1,500-a-week ($2,200, the scoring in Friday’s Euro 2016 warm- 2,000 euros) and drives a relatively mod- up at the Stadium of Light. No player of est Audi, was an unknown yet to play a such a tender age had ever found the professional game as he strove to net on his England debut and at the age emerge from the youth ranks at Old of 18 years and 209 days, Rashford is Trafford. But he has seized his chance in behind only former Liverpool star remarkable fashion, scoring eight goals Michael Owen (18 years and 164 days) in 18 United appearances and helping and United captain Wayne Rooney (17 the team win the FA Cup. Rashford, from years 317 days) in the list of the the unassuming Manchester suburb of youngest scorers in an England shirt. Wythenshawe, has now scored with his Rashford’s meteoric rise is starting to first shot in the Premier League and with resemble the memorable performances his first attempt in an England shirt, delivered by both Owen and Rooney making him the kind of game-changer early in their England careers. Both Hodgson sounds keen to harness. made their names by dazzling as Rashford’s cause is helped by the calf teenagers at major tournaments-Owen injury that ruled Liverpool forward at the 1998 World Cup and Rooney at Daniel Sturridge out of the Australia SAN JUAN: Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi is assisted after being injured during a friendly football match against Honduras at Bicentenario Euro 2004 — and Rashford looks capa- match. stadium in San Juan on May 27, 2016. — AFP ble of following in their footsteps after Sturridge has struggled with injuries netting at the same venue where to such an extent that he has played Rooney scored his first England goal 13 only 58 minutes for England since 2014 years ago. Hodgson, who has until May and, with Rooney, Harry Kane and Jamie Argentina down Honduras 31 to axe three players from his 26-man Vardy guaranteed of their spots, he provisional squad, wouldn’t confirm could miss out on the Euros if Hodgson Rashford had done enough to seal his decides to take just four strikers. 1-0 amid Messi injury scare seat on the flight to France. Sturridge will attempt to save his berth But his glowing response to ques- by taking part in a full training session tions about the youngster suggested he on Monday and Hodgson said: “Nothing SAN JUAN: Lionel Messi was taken to hospital nature of the injury, the Argentina Football is also due to return to Spain this weekend to can dig out his passport. “The subject of changes. I will have two or three more after suffering an injury scare on Friday as Association said in a statement. “Messi suffered attend a hearing in his tax fraud trial, before Marcus Rashford, I guess, will chop a sleepless nights before I submit my list Argentina defeated Honduras 1-0 in their only trauma to his lower back on the left side and then jetting off to California to reunite with the few trees down tomorrow,” Hodgson on Tuesday. “I know Daniel Sturridge. If warm-up game before next month’s Copa ribcage in the same area. He is being examined Argentina squad. Earlier in Friday’s match, said. “I was asked if I was nervous about it turns out that the injury would keep America Centenario in the United States. A first- in a local hospital for a more thorough diagno- Higuain’s goal in the 31st minute had settled the putting him and if he could handle the him out for the (Euro 2016) game half goal from in-form Napoli striker Gonzalo sis,” the statement said. He had suffered a encounter for the hosts. situation. I wasn’t nervous or surprised against Russia, that might make a differ- Higuain settled a low-key encounter in San Juan, “nasty blow to the lower back,” Argentina The striker produced a sublime Cruyff turn to with how he played. “He tired a little in ence, but I have no indication it’s that with two-time world champions Argentina dom- coach Gerardo Martino said. “It’s too early for wrongfoot defender Maynor Figueroa before lift- the second half but that’s normal for serious.”—AFP inating possession and shots. me to say anything more at this stage,” Martino ing a delicate finish over goalkeeper Donis But the result was overshadowed by an told a post-match news conference. However, Escober. Argentina had earlier threatened the alarming incident involving Messi midway any injury to Messi will be a huge blow to Honduras goal when Messi played in Angel Di through the second half that forced the Argentina as they prepare for their opening Maria only for the Paris Saint-Germain forward Barcelona superstar to leave the field clutching Copa America Centenario match against Chile to shoot over the bar. Manchester City defender Ireland keep momentum his lower back in pain. The five-time FIFA World in California on June 6. Nicolas Otamendi also went close on 28 min- Player of the Year appeared to be hurt after a Messi is crucial to Argentina’s hopes of win- utes, volleying just wide from Di Maria’s corner. heavy aerial collision with an opposing player in ning a first major tournament for 23 years, and Higuain fired the Argentines ahead just after the in Euro build-up draw the 59th minute. Messi grimaced and rubbed his was player of the tournament at last year’s Copa half hour, and only a fine close-range save from lower back after the challenge and required America and the 2014 World Cup. The 28-year- Escober prevented Manchester United defender DUBLIN: Ireland maintained their Euro opening goal, showing great compo- treatment on the field for several minutes before old Argentina captain missed two months of last Marcos Rojo from making it 2-0 on 39 minutes, 2016 momentum with a 1-1 draw against sure and awareness. Collecting the ball he was swiftly substituted by Ever Banega. season’s club campaign for Barcelona after suf- his shot from Erik Lamela’s pass parried away at the Netherlands at Lansdowne Road in near the Ireland box, he twisted and Messi was taken to hospital to assess the fering a serious knee injury in September. Messi the near post.— AFP Dublin yesterday night. Martin O’Neill’s turned out of company and, spotting side were ahead at half time thanks to right back Seamus Coleman storming Shane Long’s 16th international goal, up the wing, lofted a glorious ball over and looked set for victory only for substi- the Dutch defense. Germany turn to tute Luuk de Jong to head home a late A corner was earned and, not for the equalizer. Ireland have lost just once first time, Robbie Brady showed his set youth in Slovakia since November 2014, and De Jong’s piece qualities. The Norwich star curled goal was just the fourth they’ve conced- in a beautiful delivery that, having out- Euro tune-up ed at home in eight games. witted Van Dijk, John O’Shea thumped It was not the victory O’Neill desired, towards goal. Vincent Janssen appeared BERLIN: World champions Germany are set to but there were enough positive perform- to handle on the line, but while O’Shea blood a crop of rising stars in today’s friendly at ances to give him a testing weekend, was appealing for a penalty, Long forced home to Slovakia as head coach Joachim Loew mulling over his final 23-man squad. The the ball home to halt the protestations, fine-tunes his Euro 2016 squad. Loew purposeful- Netherlands, who failed to qualify for the and start the celebrations among the ly chose Slovakia, who will make their debut at a European Championships this summer, 42,438 crowd. The Dutch hogged posses- European championships in France, as they are travelled without some big names, but sion but the hosts created the better expected to play in a similar style to Germany’s could still field stars like Jasper Cillessen chances on the night, with Brady, Group C opponents Ukraine, Poland and in goal, Virgil Van Dijk and Memphis McGoldrick and Arter the main archi- Northern Ireland. Depay. Ireland, on the other hand, had tects. Arter was giving an all-round dis- Slovakia “will try to knock us out of our rhythm” plenty at stake, with O’Neill using this play, drawing a save from Cillessen and in Augsburg, according to Loew, who wants to game as a penultimate audition for the earning a booking for a strong, but late, see how some of the new blood in the Germany Euros squad. The warm-up against tackle on Depay, and he must surely be squad cope with senior football. Uncapped Belarus in Cork on Tuesday will be D-day dusting down his passport. Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich, Dortmund’s for the Irish squad, but this game was a Duffy was a constant threat in attack Julian Weigl, Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt and key one for players on the fringe. and went close with three headers, with Schalke’s Leroy Sane, none of whom have yet Blackburn Rovers defender Shane the boot of Brady once more delivering turned 21, are all set to make their debuts. The Duffy, Bournemouth midfielder Harry top quality ball to attack. Both sides fleet-footed Sane is a star in the making having Arter and Ipswich forward David emptied their benches as the clock been linked to both Bayern Munich and McGoldrick were the three fighting to ticked by, and eventually the Dutch got Manchester City. prove their worth, along with Reading’s the goal they may believe their play The quartet, who have all been outstanding for BELFAST: Northern Ireland’s supporters celebrate as their team beat Belarus 3-0 dur- Stephen Quinn, who was a constant in warranted. Unfortunately for Duffy, it their respective clubs this season, are set to get at least 45 minutes to impress in Augsburg. “They ing an international friendly football match between Northern Ireland and Belarus at away games during qualification. Quinn was he who switched off to allow sub Windsor on May 27, 2016. — AFP was an energetic presence in midfield De Jong to nod home Jetro Willems’s are all able to compete at the required level and but O’Neill will have had his head cross, ending Ireland’s seven-game run are in the extended squad with the idea that they turned more by the showings of Duffy, of clean sheets in Dublin. A lesson can do the job,” insisted Loew. This is the first of Northern Ireland extend Arter and McGoldrick. The latter, drop- learned for the young defender per- two pre-Euro 2016 friendlies for the Germans ping deep and linking play instead of haps, and O’Neill will be thankful it who host Hungary in Gelsenkirchen next unbeaten run with a win staying up front, played a key role in the came here, and not in Paris.— AFP Saturday. Loew’s charges were in erratic form in March as they threw away a two-goal lead in their BELFAST: Northern Ireland’s record- cent tonight. What we did tonight was 3-2 defeat to England in Berlin, then hammered a breaking unbeaten streak was stretched fantastic.” Goalkeeper Roy Carroll, 38, lacklustre Italy 4-1 four days later in Munich. to 11 matches with a 3-0 victory over started for the second game in a row This is Loew’s last chance to look at certain Belarus at Windsor Park on Friday as while McNair won his seventh cap along- options before finalizing his 23-man squad. Four Michael O’Neill’s team continued their side Corry Evans and Steven Davis in names must be cut from Germany’s 27-strong impressive preparations for Euro 2016. midfield as O’Neill took a final look at his current group by midnight next Tuesday. Of the Kyle Lafferty scored six minutes into his options before naming his final 23-man 14 World Cup winners in his squad, nine will be 50th international appearance, Conor squad yesterday. Lafferty opened the missing. Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos was involved Washington claimed his second in three scoring with his 17th international goal in the Champions League final yesterday, while games just before halftime and substi- when he reacted quickest after Egor Lukas Podolski scored Galatasaray’s goal in tute Will Grigg netted two minutes from Filipenko failed to clear Dallas’s low cross their 1-0 win over Fenerbahce on Thursday in time as the Irish claimed a sixth win in 11 into the six-yard box, thumping the ball the Turkish Cup final. Mats Hummels and games. That run includes an eight-game into the bottom corner of Andrei Bastian Schweinsteiger are both recovering unbeaten spell in qualifying for the finals Harbunov’s goal. from injury. Sami Khedira and Mario Goetze, that saw Northern Ireland book a place Another defensive error led to who scored in Germany’s 7-0 win over their at a major championship for the first Ireland’s second just over a minute Under-20 team in a practice game on Thursday, time in 30 years, with the team due to before the break when another Dallas are lacking match fitness. face world champions Germany, Poland cross from the left caused problems and First-choice stars Thomas Mueller and Mesut and Ukraine next month. Harbunov’s attempted punch looped Ozil will both be rested. Germany’s world-class “The game couldn’t have gone any into the air to allow Washington to head goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will also sit the Slovakia better for us really,” said O’Neill. It was into the unguarded net. The visitors’ poor test out with Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno to good to make the substitutions... we defending gave Grigg, a 61st minute make his debut. Loew will not take anyone to were able to work with the team and we substitute for Lafferty, the chance to add France who is carrying an injury, “I will not take were able to play about with things a bit a third in the 88th and the Wigan Athletic any chances”, leaving the likes of Hummels and and all-in-all in was a perfect night for us. man slotted home his first goal for his Schweinsteiger to prove their fitness in training. “What we’re trying to get in this team is country with a right-foot shot from 12 Jan Kozak’s Slovakia, who face Wales, England and flexibility, the ability to change. We asked meters. Belarus rarely threatened, ensur- Russia in Group B, drew with Latvia and the (central defender) Jonny Evans to play ing the hosts a comfortable send-off in Republic of Ireland in their March friendlies. for the last 20 minutes as left back and front of a typically boisterous Windsor Napoli’s Marek Hamsik is the key to the Slovakian (midfielder) Stuart Dallas to play out of Park crowd. O’Neill’s team have one more midfield, while 34-year-old Robert Vittek, his coun- position (on the left flank). friendly-against Slovakia on June 4 - DUBLIN: Republic of Ireland’s Eunan O’Kane (right) takes a shot at goal as try’s all-time top-scorer, and Viktoria Plzen’s Michal “It was a great performance from us before their debut at a European Netherlands’ striker Luuk de Jong challenges during the friendly football match Duris are battling for the striker berth.— AFP tonight. I thought (Manchester United Championship against Poland in Group C between Ireland and the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium on May 27, 2016. — AFP centre back) Paddy McNair was magnifi- on June 12 in Nice.—Reuters