In news that will invite mixed reactions from the British press and long-suffering supporters of the England national team, Wayne Rooney has announced that he will bring down the curtain on his worldwide career after the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation.
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Wayne Rooney will end his England career after the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation, the striker said on Tuesday. “My mind is made up”.
Marcus Rashford also missed out, instead selected for the under-21 squad against Norway, even though the 18-year-old striker featured for England at Euro 2016 and scored Manchester United’s injury-time victor against Hull City on Saturday. “I’ve had nothing to think about since then”.
7 – Only seven of his goals have come at the final stages of worldwide tournaments, four of them as an 18-year-old at Euro 2004. “But wherever the tournament, not because it’s Moscow, I was going to give it one last chance, one last go”.
“I started professional football when I was 16 and global football when I was 17”.
“I think he (Rooney) has enjoyed the responsibility”.
If he plays in Sunday’s World cup qualifier in Slovakia (17:00 BST kick-off), he will break David Beckham’s record for the most capped outfield England player.
‘Realistically I know myself that Russian Federation will be my last opportunity to do anything with England.
The FA has previously held discussions over possible call-ups for several players including goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, midfielder Mikel Arteta and winger Adnan Januzaj on residency grounds.
But his favourite position is in the hole behind the striker, the very role Rooney has been enjoying under Jose Mourinho at United.
Allardyce has confirmed Rooney will be used as a forward under his tenure as England boss. We haven’t really spoken about it – we will in the next couple of days. “If Joe arrives today, and I’m sure if there’s anything in the pipeline Joe will tell us this may happen”. His level of play has stopped and he’s been under criticism for club and country, especially as both have brought in young players who some feel are better than him.
However, that defeat was one of a series of disappointments Rooney has suffered at major tournaments with England, which include a red card during the 2006 World Cup quarter final against Portugal, who eventually progressed after a penalty shoot-out.
“I have got 26 nieces and nephews and it is good to show them you can always do anything if you put your mind to it”, he said. The ability and talent is there. ‘You can’t just forget it (Euro 2016) but it’s a new era for us. “We are a small margin away”.
Sam Allardyce is keen to the leave the door open for foreign-born players.
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“We’ll wait and see, but we are looking at balance of positions”. Unusual that there has rarely been an England player who has shared such similarities with the fans who follow the team, and yet provoked in them such strong feelings of blame and gratitude.
