England’s record goalscorer with 53 goals, Rooney has been a stalwart for his country since bursting on to the global scene under Sven-Goran Eriksson at Euro 2004.
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Allardyce said Manchester United captain Rooney was “hugely respected by his peers” and has “enjoyed the responsibility” as captain.
But Allardyce said Rooney had been “an excellent captain for England” and as the most senior squad member was the “right choice to lead the team”.
“My mind is made up – obviously that is down to Sam Allardyce again in terms of over the next two years – but that will be my last tournament if selected”.
Antonio’s rise to the national team is being compared to that of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, in that he started out in non-league football – with Tooting and Mitcham, a club in south London – rather than in an academy of a big club.
“It’s all about the personality”.
“But because of his inclusion only as a substitute – as good as it was against Hull City – I think that the value of having probably a full game with Gareth (Southgate, the England Under-21 manager) will be invaluable to him and, later on, for us”.
Although Rooney was deployed in midfield by former manager Roy Hodgson during Euro 2016, Allardyce has indicated he intends to use him in a number 10 role.
Midfielders: Dele Alli, Michail Antonio, Eric Dier, Danny Drinkwater, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling, Theo Walcott.
“We have a department to look at the whole situation at all areas for every global team”.
“The first day has been good, I thanked the gaffer for the opportunity”, Antonio said.
“Ross is a hard one because he has been playing quite well since the start of the season and the change of position for Wayne made it a little hard to pick Ross”, said the former Sunderland manager. “And that, I really regret to say, means his retirement from global football”.
The West Ham winger was named as the only new face in Sam Allardyce’s first selection as Three Lions boss on Sunday evening.
“Having worldwide experience in the under-21s will prove invaluable for us further down the line”, the former West Ham, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland manager added. “The tactics will be different when they play at home, they are a team which has to come out and attack when they play at home whereas in the Euros we all knew one point was enough for them”.
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. “What sort of pre-season they have had, what happened last season, the start they’ve had to this season and looking at the balance of the squad”.
In all there are five changes from the squad that failed in France this summer, with the retired James Milner dropping out along with Marcus Rashford, who has been named in the under-21s, and injured pair Jack Wilshere and Ryan Bertrand.
“Every time I have played for England I keep saying I’m proud to do so, it is a huge honour for me so to do it more than any outfield player will be great – but it isn’t about playing, it is about trying to win and that is what I have been trying to do”.
“I think he’s in outstanding form”, Allardyce told the Football Association’s website as he explained his decision to select Antonio.
But the Manchester United man has declared he knows when he wants to bring down the curtain on his England career, which began with a debut against Australia at Upton Park in 2003.
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He feels their opponents will have to make more of an attempt to win the game and can not be content with a draw.
