WAYNE IN A MILLION
Record-breaker Rooney gave his all for England’s cause
WAYNE ROONEY had the world at his feet when he burst on to the England scene.
‘Wayne’s World’ looked something special as the fresh-faced Scouser, 18, made his major tournament debut at Euro 2004 and scored four goals to lead England to the quarter-finals in Portugal. Despite breaking his foot and seeing his country crash out to the host nation, the teenage terror had made his mark and given an entire nation an exciting glimpse into the future. Rooney did not know it at the time but that was as good as it was ever going to get in a Three Lions shirt for the most iconic English footballer of his generation. The striker went on to become his country’s captain and all-time leading goalscorer, beating Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record – fittingly at Wembley on September 8, 2015, with his 50th goal for England. His final tally of 53 goals might never be broken but as Rooney grows old he will look back on his time with the national side and find it impossible not to wonder what might have been.
Devotion
After announcing his retirement from international football yesterday, Rooney said: “One of my very few regrets is not to have been part of a successful England tournament side.”
No one can take his 119 caps off him – he is England’s most capped outfield star – and no one can question his passion, commitment and devotion to his country.
But on the flip side, no one can question the fact Rooney struggled to make an impact at major tournaments after 2004.
He scored just one goal during the three World Cups he took part in and just three goals in total in the five major tournaments he was involved in following his dramatic tournament debut 13 years ago.
There were red cards, infamous rants born out of frustration and some epic lows, culminating in last summer’s humiliating exit to Iceland at Euro 2016 in Nice.
Yet there are mitigating circumstances surrounding Rooney and his career in the most treasured shirt in English football.
For the past few years he has almost carried the national team on his back. It should be remembered Rooney performed selflessly in unfamiliar roles at times and, while there were regular calls for him to be dropped, we never saw much evidence that England were better off without him.
The forward just happened to be in his prime when England had a poor team.
Such has been his unflinching desire to represent his country, Rooney has also been to tournaments when he has not been fit. The most glaring example was in 2006 at the World Cup in Germany, when he turned up late having nursed a broken metatarsal and once again failed to make an impression – understandably enough.
His ultimate dream was to win a World Cup or European Championship for England. It never came close to happening.
But when the years roll on it can only be hoped football fans learn to cherish how good Rooney actually was.
For longer than we care to remember he was one of the few world-class superstars we had, head and shoulders the best player we had.
The statistics prove what an impact he had and while he made a few mistakes along the way, Rooney always gave his all to the cause, appreciating what a privilege it was.
It will have killed him to turn his back on England but given he has been eased out of the picture since Gareth Southgate became boss, his decision could prove the right one.
Just like it is right for those who love football to appreciate how much Rooney did for England. It might be a long, long time before we see his like again.