England’s success depends on a proper role for Rooney
MANAUS, Brazil — After leaving mosquito country on Sunday, England now has to avoid going out of the World Cup before even finishing its course of malaria tablets.
Tasting defeat in the Amazon was a bitter pill to swallow for England, who must find a cure for Wayne Rooney’s lethargy if they are to extend their stay in Brazil. The remedy is simple. Play him in his best position.
The heat map of Rooney’s movement at the sweltering Arena Amazonia — a location resembling one big heat map — revealed that the fifth- highest scorer in England’s history recorded only two touches in the box. The men ahead of him in the scoring charts — Michael Owen, Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Bobby Charlton — rarely, if ever, were deployed wide by their country, although Owen and Lineker certainly put in shifts out wide when employed by Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
They were predators kept close to their quarry, to the goal. Rooney can play the creator, a trait he proved again with a perfect cross for Daniel Sturridge’s goal, but his positioning on the flank otherwise singularly failed to exploit his gifts properly.
England needs to show Rooney more respect.
Few quibbles could truly be found with team manager Roy Hodgson’s tactics against Italy. There was more pace and adventure in 90 minutes in the rainforest than in 360 minutes in safari land under Fabio Capello four years ago. The handbrake was off, youth was given a chance, and England played with real verve at times. Here was an England team worth watching. They just lost to a nation raised in the art of keeping the ball, a team full of experience like Andrea Pirlo and Daniele de Rossi.
Rather than sobbing and retreating into a more cautious tactical frame of mind, England just need to move Rooney centrally behind Sturridge for Thursday’s game against Uruguay in Sao Paulo when England either goes for it or goes home.
“Of course we want him in the area,” Hodgson said. “I thought he set up the goal really well with that delightful cross. But, yes, we want Wayne in the box. We will get Wayne in the box, and there’s no question we will get him in the box. He certainly worked his socks off for us.”
England’s cutting edge will sharpen with Rooney central. Hodgson felt the 4- 2- 3- 1 system was successful against Italy.
“For long periods, yes,” he said. “I liked the shape of the team going forward, but we have some work to do on the shape defending.”
Indeed. England’s right flank was not a problem, Glen Johnson defending well enough. It was over on the left that Italy quickly saw a land of opportunity, targeting Leighton Baines, who seemed nervous on such a high- profile stage.
If the back four needs work, probably freshening up for Euro 2016, there were little other grounds for complaint. Joe Hart, barring one mistake, remains the best choice in goal. Jordan Henderson worked tirelessly in midfield, eclipsing Steven Gerrard, who failed to rise to the challenge of Pirlo. Henderson, Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Danny Welbeck did well, underlining why Hodgson was right to gamble on youth.
“They will be really looking forward to the Uruguay game,” Hodgson said. “The younger ones will have no thoughts of, ‘ Do I belong on this stage?’ Because they have shown that against Italy.”
For England to stay in the tournament, to find a heat map that burns opponents, Rooney has to come in from the cold, buzzing again.