The 33-year-old was stretchered off in added time of England’s 2-0 defeat by Spain in their global friendly in Alicante on Friday night.
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That came to fruition with right back Mario Gaspar coming through in the 72 minute.
But Rooney was quick to offer his backing to Costa, telling him is still one of the best in the business.
Wayne Rooney became England’s record goal scorer in September, but his global future is in doubt after he was omitted from the team for England’s prestige friendly against Spain tonight. Ryan Bertrand and Raheem Sterling impressed down the left, but eventually Roy Hodgson’s men crumbled under intense pressure and Spain ran out deserved winners.
Nolito’s influence made the England right a fruitful area for Spain to attack and overlapping full-back Jordi Alba stung Hart’s palms at the near post after 65 minutes.
“But then I have to understand I have played a lot of games for England and players like Jamie Vardy have come in and done well”, he said.
“England always do well in qualifying, but this quality of opposition will give us a better idea of how England match up with the biggest sides and how well individuals match up against other top players”.
They were here to see a fiesta of football and their players gave it to them.
But both sides suffered injury concerns, with Spain losing Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara to a knee problem in the first half with United’s Carrick leaving on a stretcher late on. Harry Kane, playing as a lone striker supported by Barkley, should have found the target after England’s best passing move of the contest, but shot tamely wide of the target. We take the responsibility. England have kept four successive clean sheets, while Spain are on a five-match sequence without being breached.
“We knew how good they are at keeping the ball and moving it around and we knew we would have to work hard to keep them at bay”.
“We are monitoring it, we are still working on it, but it looks unlikely at this moment in time that he will be able to play tomorrow”.
“I actually voted for Costa as player of the year last season because I think he was a huge player for them (Chelsea)”.
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Speaking about Rooney’s absence from tonight’s match and the number of options up front, Hodgson said: “Wayne’s with me because he’s the captain of our team, he’s the most important figure as a result, but he actually won’t start the game”.
