While Marcus Rashford was scoring on his England debut against Australia, Daniel Sturridge was being criticised on social media for using his phone during the game.
The Liverpool striker looked pretty miserable sitting in the stands, with many concluding that Rashford would replace Sturridge in England’s squad for Euro 2016.
Both have been selected by Roy Hodgson, but Sturridge has fallen down the pecking order since the World Cup two years ago, when he was England’s starting striker.
The 26-year-old was asked about the incident on Tuesday, and explained that he was using his phone during the friendly because he had organised a charity event for his foundation, that he was unable to attend, but needed to stay in touch with his family.
Sturridge said he had full permission from Hodgson to use his phone.
“It was my charity event, my first annual charity event in Birmingham that night,” Sturridge said.
“My family had put the event on and they were texting me the whole night. I wasn’t sat on the bench, I was behind the bench… I’m watching the game.
“It’s important to watch my team-mates play but if I receive a text message about my charity event of course I’m going to reply to it. That’s important to me, just as much as it is here. I’m trying to do something positive for my community in Birmingham as well as in Jamaica. Of course I want my team-mates to do well and there was no disrespect at all.
“The manager said he had no problem with it because I was sat behind the bench, not on the bench with the team.”
