Wayne Rooney admits England have to improve following their 1-0 victory over 10-man Portugal in their final warm-up match before Euro 2016.
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Rooney started in a front-three with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, but Roy Hodgson’s side lacked a cutting edge ahead of their European Championship campaign which gets under way against Russian Federation on June 11.
The trio led England’s attack in the victory at Wembley on Thursday, but their link-up play lacked cohesion as Roy Hodgson’s men stuttered to an uninspiring victory thanks to Chris Smalling’s late header.
Rooney’s position in England’s starting XI has come under scrutiny with Hodgson heavily criticised for the formation he employed in the lacklustre win over Portugal at Wembley in which in-form strikers Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane occupied wider positions to accommodate the Manchester United forward in a central role.
“We didn’t have many chances, none of us, so it is something the manager is working on and Portugal made it hard”, Rooney said. I don’t know how many teams actually are the finished article and that’s also quite a good thing because had we won the three games by four goals to nil then all people would be saying is “You’ve got to win it now” and with a young team I think that would have put too much pressure on them.
“But if you’re asking me can we play better than that?” We know that we have to improve though as in tournament football you need to be better to win games.
Harry Kane has reassured anxious fans that England will be ready to start Euro 2016 in style against Russian Federation next week despite an unconvincing display against Portugal.
These games were to prepare us for the Euros and I feel they have done that.
With some of the best players of Europe vying for a championship that will not only boost their careers but also bring their national teams under the radar, the Euro 2016 looks to be the tournament to watch out for.
“We played with split strikers”. We need all of our players playing well, and I’m not prepared to stand here and criticise some players.
Having come through hard-fought 2-1 wins against Turkey and Australia, the Three Lions welcomed the side ranked eighth in the world as they wrapped up their preparations for France.
Even the first-half sending off of Bruno Alves for a horrific high challenge on Kane did little to help on a night punctuated by poor passes and choices.
“If you play with them going down the middle and Rooney in behind them, you would never be able to defend the wide areas”. We didn’t hit enough balls over the top to stretch them in the early part of the game.
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“I have a good squad, especially in attack”. “I believe that he might not be coming now, but we are happy with the two opponents we have had so far”.
