Former Nigeria captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha has said he is overwhelmed by the eulogy poured on him by England coach Sam Allardyce despite retiring from football many years ago.
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Rooney to quit England after 2018 World Cup was posted in Sports of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 31, 2016 and was last updated on August 31, 2016.
Despite being dropped by City, the 29-year-old Hart was still called up by England as one of three goalkeepers for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday.
And Allardyce has made it clear to the 26-year-old that his place in the squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier is well-deserved.
“I made my mind up before the Euros, whether we did well or didn’t do well, that I would continue after the tournament”.
The former Sunderland boss, who retained Manchester United captain, Wayne Rooney as the national team captain, said Okocha was the best of the lot.
“After Russia 2018 World Cup, I feel that will be the time to say goodbye to global football”. The youngster though made a massive impact for the team at the weekend and got a deserved victor against Hull City to keep up United’s 100 percent start to the Premier League season. “I think that will be the right time to finish”.
Rooney said: “It will be a proud moment. I’m ready to play whether it’s midfield, number 10 or striker”, he added.
Former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who made 125 worldwide appearances, is England’s most capped player overall.
Allardyce was speaking after the announcement of his first squad, when he was asked to name his new captain and his best ever captain.
11 & 2 – Having been famously sent off against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup and again in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro, Rooney also has 11 yellow cards in his worldwide career.
“Right after the tournament, with all the questions on whether I should stop playing, I said I wanted to continue”, he said. I’m looking forward to getting back on the pitch, (there are) bad memories from the last game for England so it will be nice to get back playing.
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“The way I play, some managers are going to like me, some managers are not going to like me”. “We have to (move on from previous disappointments). I’m just trying to get them done while I’m still playing really”. And Okocha went from home crowd to Premier League favourite in a short space of time, lighting up a variety of stadiums with his invention, trickery and finesse.
