ROONEY COULD BE IN THE SOUAD ON MERIT
(AND DON’T BE SHOCKED IF HE BAGS A GOAL!)
WHAT ’ S the problem? I’ve listened to the criticism that has been aimed at the Football Association and Wayne Rooney all week and I don’t understand it.
Yes, the fact that Rooney has been recalled to the England squad for one final time has come as a surprise, but all week I heard people saying it is a bad idea and I can’t work out why it has caused such resentment.
I’m sure some of you will say this is just me leaping to the defence of an old friend, but the fact I know him and used to play alongside him for England has no influence on my argument.
If I had never kicked a ball to Wayne in my life, I’d still support his involvement in Thursday night’s USA game.
This, to point out, is Wayne Rooney. To emphasise a few facts, he is England’s leading scorer — the first man to break through the 50-goal barrier — and he also holds the record for most goals at Manchester United. He is an icon in the same way as Gary Lineker and Sir Bobby Charlton.
We are not talking about someone who has spent his career in the lower divisions and has no right to be working with the country’s best players.
He has not been retired for 20 years nor is he unfit. He has actually been playing very well for DC United and has sparkled since moving to America.
It has been argued that players from past generations were not given this treatment but the world moves on. I’m not saying this should happen all the time but if, say, Harry Kane breaks Wayne’s goals record then why should a special case not be rewarded?
Again I’ll ask the question: what is the problem?
If this was a man who had been out of football for a long time, I’d be the first to offer criticism but there is actually an argument to say that after scoring 12 goals in 20 DC United games, he could be in the squad on merit.
It is, of course, a one- off, an opportunity to say goodbye, and Wayne deserves it. I’ll say it once more: nobody has scored more goals for England and that puts him in a unique position.
That achievement alone is worthy of a celebration but it seems the vast majority are looking at this situation cynically.
They would do something like this around the world. We all thought it was a fantastic touch by the German FA to give Lukas Podolski a send- off ( against England) in March 2017 and we will all look at Spain celebrating David Silva’s international career and think it is brilliant.
Why is it not the same for Wayne? I have always felt he has not received the appropriate recognition for someone with his talent. For all those fabulous numbers he has accumulated, I don’t believe it’s been appreciated what a player he has been.
THEfirst memory I have of him in an England shirt was his first start against Turkey at the Stadium of Light in April 2003. I watched on TV and was blown away by this 17-year-old who had it all; the thing that sticks in my mind most is him juggling the ball on the halfway line, tormenting defenders.
A few years later I got to play alongside him and it was, simply,
a joy. The talent was even more apparent when he was doing things in front of you.
I played 22 of my 42 caps with him as my strike partner and the confidence he gave you was incredible. One game really sticks in my mind. We played egypt in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup and he created a hatful of chances for me. I scored two of them and could have had a couple more.
We got on well on and off the pitch and he was someone I used to hang around with during call-ups.
Wayne had this ability to do things that astounded you. I was in the Stoke penalty area trying to defend a free-kick one afternoon in January 2017 when he became United’s leading scorer; the goal was a killer to concede but it was an amazing way to record an amazing achievement and I told him so afterwards.
he will never lose the ability to strike a ball with that power and precision, nor will he stop being able to see a pass. Put it this way, when he trains with the squad at St George’s Park at the start of next week, he will not dilute the quality. If anything, he will take it up a level.
And, you know, I wouldn’t put it against him scoring against the USA, either. If he does, it should be celebrated accordingly.
This is the last time you will see Wayne Rooney in an england shirt. Take the moment to enjoy it.