Rooney’s England career ends with win

LONDON: Wayne Rooney’s recordbreaking England career ended with a first: relief not to score.

Whenever the striker touched the ball after coming on in the 58th minute, however far he was from goal in a 120th appearance, fans shouted ‘‘Shoot!‘‘

The best chance fell to the 33yearold Rooney in the second minute of stoppage time against the United States at Wembley.

Primed in the penalty area, Rooney turned to shoot, only to be denied by US goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s low save.

There was a wry smile from Rooney, whose England career ended with 53 goals.

It didn’t matter for the result, because a new generation of players had already provided the offence that secured a 30 win in the friendly against the country Rooney now calls home.

‘‘Another yard it would have been in . . . and it would have great,’’ Rooney said.

‘‘But in some ways it’s great because if I did score it would have opened another whole lot of debate whether that goal should count or not.

‘‘In some ways it’s probably better it didn’t go in,’’ he said.

By the time Rooney entered the game as former Manchester United teammate Jesse Lingard’s replacement, England had done enough for the victory.

Lingard and Trent AlexanderArnold scored within 104 seconds of each other in the first half.

As England’s recordscorer bid farewell, AlexanderArnold was joined by striker Callum Wilson, on debut, in getting their first goals for England.

But this was Rooney’s night in front of 68,155 fans.

‘‘Tonight was a great night for me and my family,’’ Rooney told Sky Sports.

‘‘I’m proud to have played for England so many times and to be the record goal scorer.

‘‘I can sit back and watch them now.’’

The stakes will be more meaningful Monday in the next game at Wembley when England host Croatia, with victory for either side securing a place in the Uefa Nations League finals.

Meanwhile, a newlook Germany comfortably beat Russia 30 in a friendly, with all the goals coming in the first half.

Republic of Ireland drew 00 with Northern Ireland and Poland lost 10 at home to the Czech Republic in other games. —AP

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Cheers . . . England’s Wayne Rooney acknowledges the fans after his side’s international friendly against United States at Wembley Stadium in London yesterday.