Rashford 8-1 to start England’s Euros opener
MARCUS RASHFORD made his debut for Manchester United just three months ago but he has been included in England’s 23-man Euro 2016 squad and is just 8-1 with Hills to cap a remarkable rise by starting the Three Lions’ opener against Russia next Saturday.
The 18-year-old is one of five strikers selected by Roy Hodgson, who axed Danny Drinkwater, Fabian Delph and Andros Townsend from his provisional 26-man party.
Hodgson’s decision brings the number of midfielders and wingers down from 11 to eight and appears to increase the chance of Rooney operating in a deeper position, as he has been doing for Manchester United in recent months.
A positional change for Rooney could be good news for Jamie Vardy, who is 8-15 with Hills to start the opening match and 11-8 not to.
Of the other forwards, Harry Kane is 1-16 to start the game, while Daniel Sturridge – once mooted a possible casualty of Rashford’s rise to prominence – is an 11-2 chance.
Rashford, who took less than three minutes to score on his international debut, is just 2-1 with Ladbrokes to score at the Euros, a best-priced 11-1 to be England’s top marksman and 80-1 to be the top tournament goalscorer.
Tottenham’s five-man contingent remain in the squad and bet365 go 3-1 that they all start the first game.
Wales boss Chris Coleman also settled on his final squad on Monday and found room for Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley even though the player is still working his way back from a broken leg sustained at the end of the domestic season.
Ledley’s inclusion was bad news for Huddersfield midfielder Emyr Huws, who missed the cut along with injured trio Tom Lawrence, Tom Bradshaw and Adam Henley.
Germany’s hopes have been hit be the news that Marco Reus has been ruled out.
It was a major blow for Germany head coach Joachim Low, who said, “It is a disappointment for him and for all of us. If fit, he would have been a major plus for our team.”
Reus’s omission seems to have influenced the outright market with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power easing the Germans from 7-2 to 4-1.
England squad – goalkeepers: J Hart, F Forster, T Heaton (Burnley); defenders: G Cahill, C Smalling, J Stones, K Walker, R Bertrand, D Rose, N Clyne; midfielders: D Alli, R Barkley, E Dier, J Henderson, A Lallana, J Milner, R Sterling, J Wilshere; forwards: W Rooney, H Kane, J Vardy, D Sturridge, M Rashford.
Wales squad – goalkeepers: W Hennessey, D Ward, O Fon Williams; defenders: B Davies, N Taylor, C Gunter, A Williams, J Chester, A Richards, J Collins; midfielders: A Ramsey, J Ledley, D Vaughan, J Allen, J Williams, G Williams, A King, D Edwards; forwards: G Bale, H Robson-Kanu, S Vokes, S Church, D Cotterill.
