England’s World Cup campaign was dealt a blow before it even began after a Three Lions star was ruled out of the tournament with an injury, forcing an emergency call-up for a Chelsea player. The identity of the injured player and his replacement have not been confirmed, but the setback comes as Gareth Southgate’s side prepare for Wednesday’s Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford trained in Kansas City in temperatures above 30C, his focus fixed firmly on England duty. The forward is unaffected by Monday’s deadline passing without Barcelona triggering the £26m clause to make his loan permanent. On 1 July, he will officially return to Manchester United with a £325,000-a-week contract still running for two years. Head coach Michael Carrick said in April that no decision had been made on Rashford, adding: “Whoever’s here, I want to work with them and help them to improve.” But minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to reduce wage costs, and United have already given Rashford’s number 10 shirt to Matheus Cunha. The summer rebuilding plans are being assembled on the assumption Rashford will not feature. After Ruben Amorim placed him in the ‘bomb squad’ last year, FIFA’s new memorandum with players’ union Fifpro means any player exiled from the main group can demand release and payment of their contract. United now say they expect Rashford to return after the World Cup.
“England suffer injury blow before Croatia opener; Rashford future in doubt after Barcelona exit.”
For England fans in Dallas, a unique accommodation option is drawing crowds. Southfork Ranch, the set of the iconic TV series ‘Dallas’, offers JR Ewing’s bedroom for $1,978 (£1,475) a night – a price chosen to mark the year the show first aired. Operations manager LuCretia Buckett said: “Recently we had a couple fly in from London. They landed at Dallas Fort Worth airport and arranged to get an Uber here to the ranch. They stayed the night in JR’s bed and they they got an Uber back to the airport in the morning and flew back to England – that’s dedication to Dallas for you.” The ranch welcomed fans from Newcastle, Birmingham, London, Manchester, and even March in Cambridgeshire, with interest expected to surge as the tournament unfolds.