No goal for Wayne Rooney in 120th, final England appearance

LONDON >> Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking 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 33-year-old Rooney in the second minute of stoppage time against the United States at Wembley Stadium. Primed in the penalty area, Rooney turned to shoot, only to be denied by U.S. 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 offense that secured a 3-0 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.

Such was the debate stirred by England’s most capped outfield player being recalled after two years off the team to have this ceremonial farewell, 15 years after his debut.

“The FA are celebrating players who have left their mark on international football for England — it never happened in the past, which it should have,” said Rooney, a Premier League and Champions League title-winner with Manchester United.

“It hasn’t taken way form what Gareth and the players are trying to do,” he said. “Hopefully in a few years’ time some of the players will be getting a similar night for their achievements. It was a great touch for me.”

By the time Rooney entered the game as former Manchester United teammate Jesse Lingard’s replacement in the 58th minute, 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 record-scorer bid farewell, Alexander-Arnold was joined by striker Callum Wilson in getting their first goals for England.

But this was Rooney’s night.

England proclaimed the night “return of the king,” celebrating a player who thrilled so often in the England jersey but couldn’t inspire the country to a first title since 1966.

“He has been brilliant, the time he given to all of the players,” England coach Gareth Southgate said. “He had some lovely touches, a couple of really exquisite throughballs and we were a yard to the left of Brad Guzan from a fairytale ending.”

The start to the night was memorable enough.

In front of 68,155 fans, Rooney entered the field before the match accompanied with his four boys, carrying Cass, who was born in February.