November 10, 2024

‘You can just take a normal run-up can’t you?’: Rafael van der Vaart delivers scathing verdict on Marcus Rashford’s ‘interesting’ missed penalty during Euro 2020 final defeat …

Marcus Rashford #MarcusRashford

Rafael van der Vaart, Marcus Rashford that are standing in the grass: MailOnline logo © Provided by Daily Mail MailOnline logo

Rafael van der Vaart has hit out at Marcus Rashford’s penalty technique, after the Manchester United forward hit the post during England’s shoot-out defeat to Italy.

Italy were crowned European champions after Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all failed to convert from the spot.

Former Netherlands international Van der Vaart, delivered a scathing verdict into Rashford’s penalty saying he should have done a more ‘normal’ run-up.

a football player on a field: ( © Provided by Daily Mail ( Rafael van der Vaart looking at the camera: ( © Provided by Daily Mail (

As reported by Dutch website Voetbalzone, he said on Dutch TV:  ‘They’re young and I don’t think it’s that sad. 

‘You can just take a normal run-up, can’t you? It’s all a little interesting. If you already know you have to go left, you might as well stand there, right? That’s good, then. He has a good kick…well.’

Fellow analyst Marco van Basten was less critical of Rashford stating: ‘He does everything right but he shoots against the post.’ 

England had the advantage at that point of the penalty shoot-out after Andrea Belotti missed Italy’s second penalty.

Rashford who was brought on solely to take a penalty, could have put England 3-2 ahead.

The Manchester United forward stuttered his run and sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way though his shot canned off the post.

Marcus Rashford holding a basketball: ( © Provided by Daily Mail (

Sancho and Saka then missed the following kicks, with Italy taking the win 3-2 after Federico Bernardeschi scored from the spot.  

Former Dutch international and pundit Rene van der Gijp also criticised Rashford as he said:  ‘Those three misses, man. Rashford will take them at Manchester United.

‘Would he decide to take such a run-up as he walks towards it? Or would he have that in his head? He almost comes to a stop two or three times during his run-up.

‘Have you ever seen him take a penalty like that? It goes wrong, and then Sancho does it again. I think that’s crazy.’  

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