‘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 to Italy
- Italy were crowned European Champions after their penalty shoot-out victory
- Marcus Rashford missed one of three spot-kicks for Gareth Southgate’s side
- Rafael van der Vaart has hit out at Rashford’s technique during his run-up
- Rashford stuttered his run before cannoning his penalty off against the post
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.
Marcus Rashford made a stuttered run-up before missing his penalty against Italy in the final
Rafael van der Vaart has hit out at Rashford’s penalty technique for not being ‘normal’
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.
Rashford was one of three England players to miss spot-kicks during their shoot-out defeat
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.’
