September brought a shift in the air, trading the golden warmth of late summer for a steady, cold drizzle that coated the tarmac at Wembley Stadium. The international break was often viewed by club managers as an unwanted disruption, but for Harry, stepping into the England setup was another crucial battleground in rewriting his story.
The national side was in a state of quiet transformation under Gareth Southgate. Gone were the fractured egos of past eras; in their place was a young, hungry squad striving to build a cohesive identity ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Inside the dressing room before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, Southgate stood near the tactical board, looking around the room at Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Jordan Henderson, and Marcus.
"Slovakia are well-organized and physical," Southgate said, his voice measured and calm. "They will compact the central areas to deny Harry room to drop deep. Marcus, your pace on the left is going to be our primary outlet to stretch their back four. Give Peter Pekarík something to think about every time you get the ball."
Harry adjusted his white England jersey, looking at his reflection in the glass cabinet across the room. In his previous life's memories, he recalled this exact match: a tense, nerve-wracking night where Slovakia took an early shock lead before England had to fight their way back.
No early mistakes tonight, Harry thought, tightening his captain’s tape on his wrists. We control the tempo from minute one.
The match kicked off under a murky London sky. Slovakia, led by the tactical sharp mind of Marek Hamšík, came out with a point to prove.
In the 3rd minute, disaster nearly struck. A miscommunication in midfield allowed Stanislav Lobotka to intercept a pass and drive directly toward England’s penalty box, slotting a low finish past Joe Hart to give Slovakia a shock 1-0 lead.
Wembley went dead silent. A wave of anxious groans trickled down from the stands.
On the touchline, Southgate clapped his hands, shouting for calm. On the pitch, Harry didn't let his head drop for a fraction of a second. He walked over to Dele Alli and Harry Kane, gathering them near the center circle.
"Keep your heads!" Harry commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative. "We have eighty-seven minutes. Stay wide, speed up the ball circulation, and let's turn them around."
Kane looked at the nineteen-year-old, nodding in approval. The authority in Marcus's voice was undeniable—he was no longer just a bright kid happy to be in the squad; he was a leader who demanded standard excellence.
England took complete control of the match, suffocating Slovakia with intense, high-pressing transitions.
In the 37th minute, the pressure bore fruit.
Harry trotted over to the right corner flag to take a set piece. Looking into the crowded six-yard box, he spotted Eric Dier making a subtle run toward the near post.
Harry whipped in a low, aggressive, curling ball that bypassed the first defender. Dier met it at full stride, flicking a brilliant first-time boot past the Slovakian keeper into the top corner.
England 1 - 1 Slovakia (37')
Wembley erupted, the initial tension dissolving into roaring support.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half.
In the 59th minute, Jordan Henderson won possession deep in the opposition half, poking the ball forward to Dele Alli.
Harry, recognizing that Pekarík was caught out of position, executed a sharp, diagonal cross-run from left to center, dropping into the pocket between Slovakia's midfield and defense.
Alli slid a crisp ground pass to Harry’s feet.
Slovakia's central defender, Martin Škrtel, stepped out aggressively, intending to clamber over Harry's back and force a foul.
In his 2024 memory, Harry knew Škrtel's physical, bone-crunching defensive style intimately. He wants the contact, Harry calculated instantly. Give him nothing to hit.
Instead of receiving the ball with his back to goal, Harry let the pass run across his body, using a subtle drop of his left shoulder to fake a turn toward the touchline. Škrtel committed his weight entirely to the left.
With a lightning-fast chop of his right foot, Harry spun back inside, leaving Škrtel completely stranded on the slick turf.
With twenty-five yards of open space in front of him, Harry didn't take an extra touch. Remembering his relentless work on left-foot plant balance, he set his footing cleanly and unleashed a vicious, dipping strike toward the far bottom corner.
The ball flew past the keeper’s despairing dive and nestled cleanly into the side netting.
England 2 - 1 Slovakia (59')
Wembley exploded into a deafening roar.
Harry sprinted toward the corner flag, leaping high into the air before landing with a powerful stance, pointing to the lion crest on his chest as ninety thousand fans rose to their feet to applaud him.
England held the 2-1 lead until the final whistle, securing a massive victory that placed them on the absolute brink of World Cup qualification.
In the post-match press conference, Southgate sat before a room crowded with journalists, microphoned up under the bright lights.
"Gareth," a journalist from The Telegraph asked, "Marcus Rashford had a hand in both goals tonight after that early mistake. How impressed were you with his response?"
Southgate smiled softly, leaning into the microphone.
"Marcus showed the maturity of a world-class player tonight," Southgate answered clearly. "He didn't let the early goal affect his focus. His movement, his decision-making, and his work rate were outstanding. He is growing into an essential player for this country."
Meanwhile, inside the England dressing room, Harry sat in front of his locker, sipping a recovery drink while checking his phone.
A notification popped up—a text message from Jose Mourinho back in Manchester:
"Good goal. Good response after the mistake. Now get back to Carrington in one piece. Everton on Sunday."
Harry smiled, locking his phone and tossing it into his kit bag.
He leaned his head back against the locker, taking a deep breath of the damp London air. The international hurdle was cleared, his status as England's rising star was cemented, and the long, grueling winter schedule with Manchester United was waiting.
He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder, ready for the next challenge.
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