Manchester United forward scored the crucial goal from the spot to help England beat Romania in their second – and final – pre-Euro friendly. The Three Lions had the chance to double their lead later on, but Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson missed from the spot.
Gareth Southgate named a much-changed side to the one that defeated Austria last week. Manchester City and Chelsea’s involvement in last month’s Champions League final meant that the likes of Mason Mount, Phil Foden, and Reece James were rested.
Instead, Southgate’s line-up consisted of the players he decided not to include in the final Euro squad. Ben Godfrey and Ben White were handed a start in defence, while James Ward-Prowse – who might yet make it to the finals – played alongside Kalvin Phillips in midfield.
England created good chances during the first half but were unable to find the net. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the crossbar from a Ward-Prowse set-piece before Jadon Sancho hit the woodwork with his curling effort. Despite creating plenty from open play, England took the lead through a set-piece. The Three Lions were awarded a penalty when Jack Grealish was tripped inside the box. Captain Rashford made no mistake from the spot to hand England the lead.
Southgate took the opportunity to send Liverpool captain Henderson into the mix. The midfielder made it to the final England squad after winning the race to be fit in time for the tournament. It was to be a forgettable night for Henderson, though, as he missed the chance to score his first England goal from the spot after they were awarded yet another penalty. What made the situation worse was the fact that he took the ball away from Calvert-Lewin, who had won the foul inside the box and was England’s designated penalty taker on the pitch.
Nevertheless, England held on to their slender lead and won the match 1-0. They will take on Croatia in their opening match of the 2020 Euro.
