Rooney steps up to finally equal Sir Bobby’s tally for England
A LITTLE piece of English football history was secured last night as Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s 45-year England record of 49 international goals.
The San Marino Stadium — capacity 4,378 — is not regarded as one of the most intimidating arenas in international football, nor is it home to formidable opponents, but that will not matter a great deal to Rooney.
The Manchester United forward could not quite take history one step further and beat Charlton’s tally, as he was substituted on 58 minutes, to boos from the England fans who wanted him to stay on.
But he will surpass Sir Bobby soon, possibly on Tuesday night against Switzerland at Wembley.
If the sense of occasion lacked a little gravitas, as Rooney tucked away a dubiously awarded penalty in the 13th minute with bemused San Marino players still protesting in vain to Cypriot referee Leontios Trattou, at least the mountainous backdrop was aspicturesque a setting as there is in the international game.
It was a night of landmarks. England have now qualified for Euro 2016 and Roy Hodgson has completed the first stage of rebuilding after their calamitous World Cup exit.
And while history was being made, the future was very much uppermost in the mind, namely Euro 2016 next summer.
Luke Shaw, John Stones, Nathaniel Clyne and Ross Barkley should all be looking to grab starting positions next summer and were bedded in while Jonjo Shelvey and Jamie Vardy made their first England starts. It was difficult to impress.
Not much of a test for Stones or the full-backs and this is not the kind of match on which they should be judged.
Shelvey paraded around at the base of the midfield in a commanding fashion, but with all the time in the world, a luxury which England will not be afforded at the finals in France.
Vardy was energetic but unless he can offer more than that, will be a fall-back option. Barkley did contribute game-changing moments and now will be expected to do the same against the Swiss on Tuesday.
England had done little of note before they were 1-0 up. A free-kick was swung in by James Milner.
When referee Trattou whistled, the home crowd cheered and England players trotted back, assuming San Marino had been awarded a free-kick. But the referee had in fact seen some kind of foul by Marco Beradi on Stones. Few others in the stadium had seen anything of note.
Still, Rooney accepted his chance and celebrated his elevation into history gratefully.
A recordbreaking moment beckoned minutes later as he brushed aside challenges only to be denied by a fine save from Aldo Simonicini.
England doubled the lead when Shaw swung in a cross. It looked to be heading to Rooney but the unfortunate Cristian Brolli directed the ball into his own net.
Straight from kick-off restart, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain flew down the right wing, pulled back a cross which missed Rooney but found Barkley free and the Everton man headed in for 3-0.
Fabian Delph’s cross on 68 minutes was turned home by Theo Walcott for the fourth.
The fifth was a welcome relief for Harry Kane, goalless for Tottenham this season, with a break down the right and a nice chip over the keeper into the far corner on 77 minutes.
By now, San Marino had capitulated and Walcott ran on to a Barkley pass to score the sixth a minute later.
All in all, it ended satisfactorily for England, but Hodgson will know that the real tests and dangers lie ahead.