Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score for England against Croatia, and he will look to make his maiden World Cup start for the Three Lions, against Ghana. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Marcus Rashford may not have started England’s World Cup opener against Croatia, but he certainly finished it with a bang.

Rashford secured the Three Lions’ 4-2 win over Croatia by scoring the ​final goal in the 85th minute after coming on as a sub earlier in the second half.

England ‌and Ghana top Group L at 1-0-0 as they enter Tuesday’s meeting ​in Foxborough, Mass. The winner clinches their place in the knockout round and grabs the ⁠inside path to winning the group.

Rashford feels players have leaned into their roles as they aspire to deliver England their first World Cup title in 60 years.

“We’re one team and we have to fight for ‌each other in the exact same way that you fight for your club teams,” Rashford said in an interview published by the Football Association.

“That’s the norm now. We understand ‌it’s difficult because everybody wants to play and a lot of players deserve to play. ‌At ⁠some point, players are going to be disappointed, but it’s about how you ⁠handle it.”

Anthony Gordon started on the left wing in that match before Rashford came on, one of several examples of England’s enviable depth. Bukayo Saka and Djed Spence were among the other second-half subs to keep the English attack fresh.

For ​Saka, however, the reason why he didn’t ‌start boils down to fitness. England manager Thomas Tuchel said the Arsenal star is managing an Achilles injury, and it’s likely Noni Madueke will start on the right wing again vs. Ghana.

Ghana’s injury concern is in net. Lawrence Ati Zigi suffered a groin injury in the opener against ‌Panama and was replaced at halftime. Benjamin Asare went on to make three saves to ​preserve the clean sheet and Caleb Yirenkyi broke the stalemate five minutes into second-half stoppage for a 1-0 victory.

Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz said a final determination ⁠on Zigi’s availability vs. England would be made only after putting him through a pregame medical assessment.

“We must be ready to make sacrifices,” Queiroz said. “You have to be ready to pay the price because a ‌win in this World Cup is very expensive. But the boys are ready to pay that price.”

Vice-captain Thomas Partey is set to make his debut in this World Cup after he was denied a visa to enter Canada for the match against Panama. Partey faces trial for rape and sexual assault in England next year; he denies all charges against him.

“I think it’s part of football, things happen in football that you cannot control,” Partey said. “So, for me, now I feel okay ‌and I’m ready to play.”

The defensive midfielder will see former Arsenal teammates Saka and Declan Rice on the opposite ​side of the field.

Published on Jun 23, 2026