Rio Ferdinand thinks that it is now time for Thomas Tuchel to roll the dice with on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford for England at the World Cup.
Marcus Rashford earned a place in the England squad for this summer’s World Cup after his successful season-long loan spell at La Liga champions Barcelona.
However, the 28-year-old Manchester United talent has not started in either of England’s World Cup matches against Croatia or Ghana this month.
Thomas Tuchel has turned to Rashford as a substitute on both occasions and the England forward made an impact in the 4-2 Group L win against Croatia.
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Rio Ferdinand feels that Thomas Tuchel should start Man Utd and England attacker Marcus Rashford at the World Cup
Marcus Rashford impressed in his England cameo last week after the Barcelona star found the back of the net against Croatia at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
However, the former Aston Villa forward’s 18-minute performance against Croatia was more significant than the seven minutes that he had against Ghana on Tuesday.
Speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand admitted that the likes of Rashford and Bukayo Saka are making real cases for why Thomas Tuchel should start them now.
“I think there’s an argument for that [starting Rashford],” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“I was surprised that at least one of those [Rashford or Saka] didn’t start. Maybe fitness could be an issue.
“There could be stuff going on behind the scenes, fitness-wise, meaning that he’s bedding them in slowly. But listen, the next game is against Panama. We’re through.
“Do you need to take any risks if there are any injury situations going on? I think the first knockout game that’s when you know he’s playing. That’s when you know who he feels are his best team.”
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Rio Ferdinand points to Marcus Rashford’s success for England at the World Cup during the Croatia match
Rashford, whose contract with Barcelona expires at the end of the month, struggled to have a meaningful impact in the second Group L encounter with Ghana.
However, the United youth academy product already showed Ferdinand what he can bring to the table after his World Cup performance against Croatia last Wednesday.
“Yeah, well, Rashford was the one I thought who came on [against Croatia] and was the best player when he came on,” Ferdinand explained.
“He scored, obviously. Like, if [he] and Saka were good, I thought, in tandem when they came on, that is scary.
“And I thought he [Tuchel] would have just used that again because it worked so well. Rashford got 10 minutes, 12 minutes the rest of the time, I think, maybe. Morgan Rogers came on; he had done a little bit here.
“But yeah, we can’t expect the substitutes every game to be pulling us out of it, you hope. But they didn’t have the impact this time that they had last time. But again, it could be different.
“If Saka’s shot goes in, then you go, ‘Wow, unreal.’”
England will now visit the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for their final Group L fixture against Panama after Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Ghana in Massachusetts.
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