Rashford ‘dead cert to start for me’ – Walcott
Theo Walcott: Marcus Rashford a Top Choice for England’s World Cup Campaign
Rashford dead cert to start for me - Former England striker Theo Walcott has expressed strong confidence in Marcus Rashford’s readiness for the upcoming World Cup, calling the Manchester United forward his "most psyched about" player. Rashford, who has netted 18 goals in 71 caps for his country, was notably absent from Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad and missed 12 months of international action between March 2024 and 2025. However, his return under Thomas Tuchel has seen him secure a spot in every Three Lions squad since, save for a brief absence due to a hamstring injury in June 2025.
Rashford’s recent loan spell at Barcelona has reignited his form, as he contributed 14 goals and 14 assists in 47 games for the La Liga champions. His performances there have been a key factor in his resurgence, and he made an immediate impact in England’s 1-0 friendly victory over New Zealand. Despite Tuchford stating there were "no hidden messages" in his first-half lineup, Walcott insists Rashford is the clear favorite to start in the World Cup.
"Rashford this year has been outstanding," Walcott said on The Wayne Rooney Show. "I've watched him quite a lot. I found the love of watching Barcelona again and took more of an interest with Rashford going out there. It's been great for him. He would be a dead cert to start for me. The way he's played, that freedom, that enjoyment. We want to see that smile."
Rashford’s contribution in the match against New Zealand was pivotal, generating five chances during the first half. Walcott further emphasized his belief in the player’s potential, stating, "Rashford's going to be a major part of this tournament. I'm looking forward to watching him. Out of all the players, I'm most psyched about him. I think he's brave to go abroad—it's great when English players go. I wasn't brave enough, but for him to do that shows good character."
Rooney Reflects on Rashford’s Career Shift
Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer, acknowledged the decline in Rashford’s time at Old Trafford, lamenting his departure. "I think it's a shame that he left Manchester United—he's a Manchester lad," Rooney remarked. "He's the one player who's got a chance to get my record there. Records are there for someone to break, and for a Manchester lad to do it, I think would be great. But over the last few years, he hasn't been present there. We know what a good player he is, so he probably needed that change. It's a shame to see it go the way it has because I'd still love him there."
Rashford’s club future remains uncertain, as Barcelona has yet to make his loan move from Manchester United permanent. The Catalan club has until 15 June—a day before England’s World Cup opener against Croatia—to activate a £26m clause for a permanent transfer. In the recent friendly against New Zealand, Rashford was substituted at halftime by new Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon, as Tuchel rotated all 11 players for the second half.
Team Dynamics and Squad Experience
Rooney and Walcott were joined on the show by Jermain Defoe, who highlighted the squad’s tournament experience. With three of Aston Villa’s Europa League winners and Crystal Palace’s Conference League-winning goalkeeper Dean Henderson included, Defoe believes such achievements bolster England’s chances at the World Cup. "They've got tournament experience now—not only tournament experience, but getting to finals, being in touching distance," Defoe said. "So the squad have to go into it confident. They have to believe they can get over the line. They have to believe they can compete against other nations."
Defoe added, "We can talk about France and Argentina, but they'll be talking about England. I'm sure they will be talking about England being one of their favourites with the players that we've got." The friendly, which served as a training exercise, has now set the stage for England and Tuchel to focus on serious preparations for the World Cup.