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Rooney 'can reach 70 England goals'

staff — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 00:44:50 +0000

Wayne Rooney can score 70 England goals and his international record will last for “at least a decade”, says former striker Gary Lineker.

The 29-year-old forward netted his 50th goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Switzerland to move clear of Sir Bobby Charlton’s total of 49 England goals.

“It’s going to be a long time before anyone gets close to Wayne,” ex-England captain Lineker told BBC Radio 5 live.

“He’s still going so could take it to 60 or 70 if he maintains his fitness.”

More on Rooney’s record
England record is ‘dream come true’
50 goals against 26 opponents
Is Rooney England’s greatest striker?
Quiz: England’s great goalscorers

Match of the Day presenter Lineker, who scored 48 England goals and is third in the all-time list, added: “Wayne does not reach 30 years old until next month and there’s no-one behind him in the team with any kind of goals tally.”

Lineker, a former Leicester, Everton and Tottenham player, said he considered himself more of a “natural goalscorer” than Rooney, but added: “You have to play for a long time to score that many goals so his record will be there for at least a decade.

“It’s a wonderful achievement for Wayne and he has been pretty consistent in terms of goalscoring since he burst on the scene in spectacular fashion.

“But he’s not just a goalscorer – his all-round game is excellent, he has great spatial awareness and is a very intelligent footballer – so congratulations to him.”

Asked to compare Rooney with previous England strikers, Lineker said: “Different players, whatever era, have different strengths.

“Wayne is quite creative and has a better all-round game than me.

“Bobby Charlton was a midfielder by and large who could score great goals from 25 yards and Jimmy Greaves was a fabulous goalscorer with a phenomenal record for England.”

England’s leading scorers. Wayne Rooney has 50 in 107 caps; Sir Bobby Charlton scored 49 in 106; Gary Lineker scored 48 goals in 80 games; Jimmy Greaves scored 44 in 57; Michael Owen hit 40 in 89.

‘You have to fear for your place’

Wayne Rooney’s 50th goal for England was a penalty as his side beat Switzerland 2-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier

Despite scoring more goals than any other England player, Rooney says he constantly worries about being dropped from the side.

“There are a lot of young lads in this team and I don’t want to give my place up,” said the Manchester United captain.

“I train every day as if my place is on the line and I have always done that throughout my career.

“I come and work harder every time and I want to make it hard for the manager to leave me out over the next couple of years. You have to fear for your place.”

‘Shaw can be the next Cole’

Luke Shaw made his England debut against Denmark on 5 March 2014

England boss Roy Hodgson believes Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw can go on to have a career like Ashley Cole, who won 107 caps.

Shaw, who has made six international appearances and never been on a losing England side, struggled for fitness last season following a £27m move from Southampton to Old Trafford in June 2014.

“I would advise Luke to study Ashley, look at what he did for England and set his sights on the same thing,” said Hodgson.

“He’s still only 20 and if he keeps going then he’s on track to be another Ashley Cole.

“It’s nice to see Luke back, playing confidently and showing the form that got him the move to Manchester United. We’ve always believed in him.”

‘Brave’ Hodgson finds a ‘stronger’ group of players

England’s Nathaniel Clyne, Ross Barkley, Jonjo Shelvey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and John Stones are all aged 24 or under

Hodgson has been impressed by the character shown by his young players as the side recorded eight successive wins to become the first team to qualify for Euro 2016.

“We’ve certainly found a stronger group, there’s no doubt about that – I think we’ve probably been quite brave,” said Hodgson.

“We played Jonjo Shelvey and Ross Barkley for 90 minutes in the team together and it’s a fairly brave move to do those kind of things. It puts them under enormous pressure, but I think they’ll learn from it.

“I really do believe we have a pretty clear idea of what our players can do and how we can use them.”

BBC Sport – Football

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Record a dream come true – Rooney

staff — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:50:44 +0000

Wayne Rooney said it was a “dream come true” to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s England goalscoring record and set his sights on adding to his total.

The 29-year-old Manchester United striker’s penalty in the 2-0 win over Switzerland in a Euro 2016 qualifier took his tally to 50 goals.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’ve been close for the last few games and it’s a dream come true.

“I’ve got a lot of football in me for England. I hope the goals don’t stop.”

The spot-kick was awarded late in the game when Raheem Sterling was fouled in the area by Granit Xhaka.

Rooney, who scored his first England goal against Macedonia in 2003, told BBC Radio 5 live: “It’s a very special night for me and my family. A night I will never forget.

“I was very nervous stepping up to take the penalty. I knew it was such a big moment for me and my career. The players said to me afterwards it was like being at a concert because there were so many flashes from phones in the crowd.

“It’s a huge honour because Sir Bobby Charlton is an England and Manchester United legend. I know Sir Bobby will be extremely proud that a Manchester United captain has broken the record.”

The striker was handed a commemorative England shirt by boss Roy Hodgson in the dressing room after the match, and made a speech in front of his colleagues.

“Nights like this you don’t forget,” he added. “When you create a bit of history it’s a great feeling. It was really nice of the players and the manager to present me with a shirt afterwards.”

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live’s exclusive interview with Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney, pictured with his wife Coleen, pays tribute to those who have helped him

Rooney can score another 15 goals – Hodgson

England coach Roy Hodgson praised Rooney’s achievement, and said the former Everton forward could possibly reach a tally of 65 goals.

“You would like to think we are on about 10 games a year and maybe if we ever did very well in a tournament a bit more – that is at least to 2018,” he said.

“So you are talking 20, maybe even 30 games, so it could be like 10 to 15 goals.

“I know he is really delighted. He will tell you what a proud moment it is for him and his family. I also know, as a team man, he will be thinking ‘how can I help England become a better team?’, ‘can I make certain – like Bobby Charlton – I end up as a winner in a tournament or help England do very well?’

“You can’t do much better than be number one in the goalscoring list, but I still want to say a word for Bobby Charlton. He is obviously a legend and one of the finest players I ever saw and I don’t think we will diminish or debase Bobby’s legendary status.

“With him and Wayne Rooney we are talking about two of the finest football players in England and I’m lucky enough to have one still playing and that I can use him.”

‘Rooney captaincy has pleased me’

Fans wore Roy Hodgson and Wayne Rooney masks at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday

Hodgson handed Rooney the captaincy in August 2014, and the coach said the striker had repaid his faith in him.

“His maturity has impressed me, the way he has accepted the captaincy,” he continued.

“I don’t think it has surprised me because I gave him the captaincy. I believed in him and trusted him and I’m really pleased with the way he has taken on the extra burden.

“The other thing that impresses me is his constant passion and enthusiasm in every training session, meetings and in games. He’s not thinking ‘I’ve got 50 goals, I’m a legend’. He is still out there working as hard as a young 19-year-old, who is playing his first game in the team.

“The FA made a presentation of a shirt with a number 50 on and the players greeted him with great delight and when the shirt was given to him I provoked him into giving a speech.

“It was a very good speech, but fairly short. But the one thing I can tell you, and what struck me, was how proud he was to achieve that and how determined he is not to stop at 50 goals.”

Team-mates congratulate Rooney

Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who scored the opener against Switzerland, told BBC Radio 5 live: “I’m delighted for Wayne. I hope he goes on to score many more for his country. I’m slowly sneaking up. I’ve got a long way to go.”

Wayne Rooney’s United team-mate offered his congratulations

BBC Sport – Football

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Is Rooney England's greatest striker?

staff — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 23:45:52 +0000

Sir Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United goalscoring mark of 249 is within range – Rooney is only 16 behind

England captain Wayne Rooney secured his place in history when he elevated himself above World Cup-winning legend Sir Bobby Charlton as his country’s highest goalscorer – but is he the greatest?

He now stands ahead of the 77-year-old Manchester United great, who scored his 49 goals in 106 appearance and ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Gary Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 games for England.

Listen to Wayne Rooney on BBC Radio 5 live.

Is Rooney greater than Charlton?

This argument will always be framed by one significant factor. Charlton is one of only 11 England players to win a World Cup – and was pivotal in that triumph.

Charlton illuminated England’s summer of ’66, scoring the famous thunderbolt against Mexico in the group games then twice in the semi-final against Portugal at Wembley before final victory against West Germany.

He retained his importance in Mexico four years later when manager Sir Alf Ramsey’s decided to withdraw him to preserve energy for the semi-final. This is regarded as the defining moment when what seemed certain victory from two goals up was transformed into 3-2 defeat against West Germany in the quarter-final in Leon.

Rooney’s three World Cups in 2006, 2010 and 2014 have all been disappointments – but are there mitigating circumstances that can be used in his defence?

Charlton was surrounded by a genuine world-class “Golden Generation” of England players such as goalkeeper Gordon Banks, the late Bobby Moore and Alan Ball as well as World Cup final hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst.

The status of World Cup winners gave that England side an aura that Rooney has never enjoyed, perhaps increasing the personal pressure that brought 11 yellow cards and two reds compared to Charlton’s clean record.

Wayne Rooney for England
Debut: 13 February 2003	Tournaments: 3 Euro tournaments & 3 World Cups
Tournament goals: 6 Goals in qualifiers: 30	Total goals: 50
Yellow cards: 11; Red cards: 2	Goal breakdown: 42 inside box (6 pens), 8 outside box (2 free-kicks)

Charlton also had the consistency of selection so dear to Ramsey, with effectively only five real changes to the first-choice England line-up between 1966 and 1970. Only Keith Newton, Terry Cooper, Brian Labone, Alan Mullery and Francis Lee replaced George Cohen, Jack Charlton, Nobby Stiles and Roger Hunt and no thought of the experimentation seen today.

He figured in an era of either no or limited substitutions whereas later years have brought about the games of wholesale changes. Rooney has been substituted 55 times while Charlton was only taken off on five occasions.

Rooney has figured alongside 100 different England players since making his debut as a 17-year-old against Australia at Upton Park on 13 February 2003.

He has had 23 of what could be reasonably termed as strike partners, from former Arsenal and Everton player Francis Jeffers in his first game, to Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy in San Marino on Saturday.

None of England’s team or substitutes from his debut play in the Premier League today, apart from Rooney himself, who will be 30 in October.

The generation around Rooney, such as David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, also failed to deliver on the biggest international stage – and how significant was Paul Scholes’ decision to retire from England duty after Euro 2004?

Rooney and Scholes were a natural fit at club level. How much more could Rooney have achieved for England with the assistance and partnership of that world-class figure?

History, however, will surely suggest Charlton remains a more significant and influential figure than Rooney. The World Cup medal seals that argument.

Charlton, in addition, was not a striker, scoring goals initially from a wide position then as a deeper-lying playmaker, which makes his 49 goals arguably even more creditable.

Gary Lineker was the first – and still only – England player to claim the Golden Boot

What about compared to Gary Lineker?

Rooney edged ahead of Gary Lineker’s 48 goals to close in on Charlton but, despite his wonderful achievement, the latter must still hold sway in terms of England greatness.

Lineker was a Golden Boot winner with six goals at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, adding four goals at Italia 90, including the equaliser in the semi-final that England eventually lost on penalties to West Germany.

Rooney has scored only one goal in 11 appearances in the World Cup finals, against Uruguay in Brazil. Lineker’s England goals came at a rate of one every 136 minutes compared to 162.5 minutes for the Manchester United forward. Charlton scored his at one every 193 minutes.

He also has only one assist, although he has created 18 chances in those three World Cups, whereas Lineker made an indelible mark in 1986. Ten goals in 12 games at a finals is an outstanding record.

Rooney deserves huge respect and admiration for his feats and, while this is not a criticism, he still comes in behind Charlton and Lineker.

Missing out at major tournaments

If Rooney’s England career will be defined by anything other than his goal record, it will be his mystifying failure to transform his brilliant natural talent to a major tournament with England, after “Roo-mania”, as a 17-year-old at Euro 2004.

Rooney has suffered a mixture of circumstances from pre-tournament injuries, suspension and subsequent red cards – but nothing can disguise that he has not delivered his full potential after that glorious Portuguese summer.

In Germany in 2006, he arrived at England’s Baden Baden HQ, declared fit after a broken foot, with the words: “The Big Man is back in town”.

But he never looked in shape, missing the first game against Paraguay before coming on as a second-half substitute in the second game against Trinidad and Tobago.

He was then isolated in a lone striking role after Michael Owen suffered a serious knee injury against Sweden and perhaps a combination of all these frustrations led to his red card for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in the quarter-final loss to Portugal.

In the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, Ronaldo encouraged the referee to send Rooney off, but Rooney said “I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed he chose to get involved”

The campaign in South Africa four years later was a miserable, joyless affair locked away in the infamous “Camp Capello” at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus in Rustenburg.

Rooney, along with John Terry, almost became a symbol for Fabio Capello’s austere regime as he described his typical day as “breakfast, training, lunch, bed, dinner, bed.” Adding for good measure “there are only so many games of darts and snooker you can play”.

It led to a series of wretched personal performances and a World Cup best remembered for his ill-advised criticism of England’s fans into a television camera after a horror show against Algeria in Cape Town.

In the 2012 Euros in Poland and Ukraine he missed England’s group games against France and Sweden while serving a ban after picking up a red card for kicking Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in a stormy qualifier in Podgorica.

He scored the winner against co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk but once again looked out of condition, not helped by inactivity and an unwise decision to take pre-tournament holiday in Las Vegas – a decision he now accepts was a mistake.

Rooney’s 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil saw him as one of the few players not to seriously damage his reputation as England crashed out at the group stage after losses to Italy and Uruguay.

It was also not Rooney’s fault that long-time allies such as Gerrard and Lampard found Brazil 2014 a World Cup too far.

Rooney was one of England’s better players and his willingness to play a left-flank role to accommodate Raheem Sterling against Italy was testimony to his team ethic.

Flat-track bully?

Emile Heskey claimed to have an “instinctive” relationship with Rooney for England

Striking at the heart of soft opponents is another charge levelled at Rooney – harsh and one he does not deserve.

Rooney has scored five goals against San Marino and three against Kazakhstan but he can hardly be blamed for the opposition presented to him.

Twenty eight of his goals have come against countries that did not actually exist when Charlton played, such as those coming out of the break-up of the old Soviet Union and Yugoslavia or those such as San Marino, who were not an international team then.

Charlton played more friendlies than Rooney – 49 as opposed to 41 – and also had his share of what could be called “soft-touch” goals such as a hat-trick against the USA in May 1959 and five in two World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg in October 1960 and September 1961.

He also scored hat-tricks in an 8-0 friendly rout of Mexico at Wembley in May 1961 and the 8-1 win in Switzerland in June 1963.

Rooney, who only scored 14 goals in friendlies compared to Charlton’s 22, has a record that is testimony to his endurance and importance. It should not been downplayed by accusations about the level of opposition.

So is Wayne Rooney an England great?

Rooney’s achievements must not be downplayed and he fully deserves a place in history. The goals are in the record books. The Rooney story is the narrative of England’s last decade.

He has been present in dark times as well as light, the consummate competitor, dressing room inspiration, team man and the England player opponents feared most.

From Sven-Goran Eriksson through to Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson, every England manager has wanted Rooney in his team – which speaks eloquently for his importance.

And Rooney has eclipsed a record that outstanding England strikers such as Lineker, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen found beyond them.

Rooney’s England highs….	….And lows
Feb 2003: Became the youngest player to play for England when he appeared in a friendly against Australia. He was 17 years and 111 days old, a record which Theo Walcott has since lowered by 36 days.	Apr 2006: Fractures a metatarsal bone in his right foot six weeks before opening fixture of the World Cup. Manages to play in tournament but was far from peak fitness.
Sep 2003: Became England’s youngest goalscorer when he netted in a 2-1 European Championship qualification win over Macedonia.	June 2006: Sent off for “stamping” on Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho in the World Cup quarter-final in Germany. England lose match on penalties.
Oct 2013: Became England’s highest scorer in competitive games, breaking Michael Owen’s record of 26 goals when he opened the scoring in a 4-1 World Cup qualification win over Montenegro.	Oct 2011: Sent off during a Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic, leading Rooney to miss the first two games of the tournament.

Rooney’s place has occasionally been questioned but has there ever been a serious and credible argument to suggest England would have even been better off without him?

Before his record-equalling game in San Marino, England had played 105 games with Rooney and 41 without him. The win percentage without him (65.9%) may be greater than that with him (59.4%) but his record on the pitch reflects his importance.

The lack of impact at major tournaments, unlike Charlton and Lineker, may leave him just short of the coveted status of a true England great, and in a worldwide context short of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rooney is, though, the finest England player of his generation, an attacker who excelled at this elite level. He has a place in history that is well deserved and a landmark that serves as a proud monument to his international career.

BBC Sport – Football

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Rooney regrets Las Vegas holiday

staff — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 12:45:32 +0000

Wayne Rooney (centre) equalled Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 England goals by scoring against San Marino

Captain Wayne Rooney wants his England team-mates to learn from his mistake prior to Euro 2012, when he went on a family holiday to Las Vegas.

England have qualified for Euro 2016 and Rooney believes players would benefit from staying at home before the tournament in France starts next June.

The 29-year-old, who was suspended for the first two games of Euro 2012, said: “I went on holiday, which I regret.”

“I thought it was no problem and now I know I shouldn’t have done it.”

The Manchester United forward equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s England record of 49 goals by scoring in Saturday’s 6-0 qualifying win over San Marino.

And he says he will speak to England manager Roy Hodgson to ensure the timing of training camps is right before his sixth major championships.

“Flying so far it takes a while to get over the jet-lag. Maybe not having a long break between the season finishing is probably the best thing,” said Rooney.

“The senior lads will sit down with the manager and the staff organising the tournament to work out what we can do better.

“I’ll certainly get my part right this time.”

Jack Grealish has played for Republic of Ireland at youth level

Meanwhile, Hodgson wants teenage Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish to decide whether wants to play for England or the Republic of Ireland.

The 19-year-old was born in Solihull, but qualifies for the Republic because his grandparents were born there and has represented the country at youth level.

Grealish rejected a call-up to Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland squad in June, saying he needed time to decide which country to represent.

“I’m not 100% certain of what he is waiting for,” said Hodgson.

“I would like him to come out and say: ‘I’ve thought about it, I’ve got the two possibilities and I’m opting for England.’

“But he has been injured, so he wouldn’t have been selectable for any team at whatever level during these September fixtures.”

Hodgson, who has spoken to Grealish, acknowledged it was “important” for the player to give the decision “the right amount of thought”.

He added: “It would be nice if he says yes and then he would have a year to see if he could knock one or two of these players off their perch.”

Looking ahead to next summer, Hodgson said he had doubts over the availability of injured forwards Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge.

Arsenal’s Welbeck, 24, will be out until after Christmas following surgery on his left knee at the end of August. He has not played club football since last April.

Liverpool’s Sturridge has not featured for Hodgson for more than a year because of hip and thigh injuries. However, the 26-year-old is back training with the Reds.

“I can only hope that Danny recovers a bit quicker and then hits the ground running. Daniel is a bit the same.

“They are always in my thoughts because I think they’re very good players and they did extremely well when they were playing in the national team I was coaching.”

BBC Sport – Football

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Rooney 'honoured' to equal Charlton

staff — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 11:45:12 +0000

By Phil McNulty Chief football writer in San Marino

England striker Wayne Rooney described equalling Sir Bobby Charlton’s scoring record as a “huge honour” after moving level with the World Cup winner on 49 goals for his country.

Rooney, 29, scored a penalty in a 6-0 win in San Marino to equal Charlton’s tally, before being substituted.

“To be level with Sir Bobby is a huge honour, a great moment and I am very proud of it,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.

“Hopefully I will surpass that and become the outright leader.”

It was a routine dismissal by England of the side ranked 193rd in the world.

After Rooney’s early penalty, Cristian Brolli headed into his own net before half-time to double the visitors’ lead.

Ross Barkley nodded in his first goal for his country straight after the break before England raced clear with two goals from substitute Theo Walcott and Harry Kane’s fine chipped finish.

Match report: Rooney equals goals record in England win

Player ratings: How did the England players do?

Rooney substitution was planned – Hodgson

Rooney was substituted in the second half, being replaced by Tottenham’s Harry Kane

England’s victory confirmed their qualification for Euro 2016 in France next summer.

Manager Roy Hodgson replaced Rooney with Kane just before the hour mark – depriving his captain of the chance to surpass Charlton on Saturday – but insisted the substitution was always going to happen.

“It was planned – in fact the team we put out was planned with a view to Tuesday night against Switzerland,” said Hodgson.

“It would be nice if Wayne got his 50th goal against Switzerland, but one thing for certain is that he will get it. It is not as if this was his last game and his only chance.

“If this was his last game for England and he needed that one goal, then I wouldn’t have taken him off.”

Shelvey shines on England return

Hodgson was delighted with the performance of Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who was outstanding on his first England appearance in almost three years.

The 23-year-old capped his performance by making the fifth goal for substitute Kane.

He said: “I thought Jonjo showed real maturity out there. We all know what he can do with his passes and with his capacity to find passes, but I also thought he was extremely assured in possession.

“He was excellent.”

Young guns win Hodgson praise

Everton’s Ross Barkley and John Stones both earned praise from the England manager

Hodgson has occasionally tempered his excitement at the emergence of Barkley with words of caution, but he was upbeat about the midfielder – who scored England’s third goal – and his Everton team-mate John Stones.

He also had words of praise for Tottenham striker Kane, who netted his first goal of the season after scoring 31 in all competitions in his breakthrough campaign.

The Everton pair are both only 21, while Kane is 22, and Hodgson said: “I thought Ross got stronger as the game went in on a new position, and of course he also got a goal.

“Harry Kane was getting so many plaudits last season and sometimes after the plaudits come a few slaps. He took his goal very well so we hope this will set him off.

“We also saw again that John is a remarkably accomplished player for one so young. I would put Harry in the same bracket as John as two players who will have long England careers, continue to improve, and put people like Wayne Rooney, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka under even more pressure than they are at the moment.”

Time for England experimentation

England’s qualification for Euro 2016 with three games to spare has given Hodgson the perfect chance to study the options within his squad – and it is an opportunity he intends to take.

He said: “I’m not sure early qualification gives us any particular advantage because we are going to take a lot of time to plan and improve anyway.

“What it could do is give me the opportunity for experimentation because we did not get that ahead of the World Cup when we had to win our last two qualifiers to get to Brazil.”

BBC Sport – Football

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Rooney wants team glory over record

staff — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 05:44:50 +0000

By Phil McNulty Chief football writer in San Marino

England captain Wayne Rooney is on the brink of history in San Marino as he stands one short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s national goals record – and believes he can still emulate the Manchester United legend and win a major international tournament.

Rooney captains England on Saturday knowing victory will secure their place in the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer.

And while the 29-year-old will delight in the personal milestone of eclipsing Charlton’s tally of 49 goals, he insists winning a trophy would give him more pleasure after he missed out with England at Euro 2004 and Euro 2012 as well as in the World Cups in 2006, 2010 and last summer in Brazil.

Still time for record – and England glory

Rooney has had to cope with claims that, even with the goal record, he will never be ranked ahead of Charlton because he, along with his brother Jack, was part of England’s 1966 World Cup team – the only time England have even won the trophy.

Wayne Rooney appeared alongside the World Cup in a sponsored appearance in 2006, but England went out in the quarter-finals against Portugal

He said: “Up to a couple of years ago, people were saying Lional Messi wasn’t as good as Diego Maradona because he hadn’t won the World Cup.

“In my mind, Messi is a better player than Maradona – but that’s how football is.

“It’s about the trophies you win. As a team, that’s how you’re judged. Sir Bobby did that. Hopefully there’s still time for me to be successful like that.”

John Stones set for golden England career

Everton’s elegant 21-year-old defender John Stones will play in San Marino on Saturday after having a transfer request rejected by the Merseyside club following Chelsea’s attempts to lure him to Stamford Bridge with three bids up to £30m.

Everton’s Stones will win his fifth cap in the match against San Marino

And England manager Roy Hodgson says he has no worries about his form after the saga.

“I don’t think John Stones requires me to talk to him about it,” said Hodgson.

“He’s been 100% professional and accepted there’s an offer for him from another club, but the club he is under contract to didn’t want to sell him. He will continue to play well for Everton now the window has closed. We believe in him.”

Hodgson added: “John is also more than capable of playing in two positions. Against Switzerland in Basel he played magnificently at right-back when we won 2-0. He’s a centre-back at Everton, where he also plays very well. It’s good to have a player of that type capable of playing in two positions. All I can hope is he continues to impress.”

England warning for Vardy

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy makes his first start for England against San Marino less than a month after receiving a “substantial” fine and being ordered to undergo diversity training by the club after claims he made a racial slur in a casino.

Video footage emerged of Vardy allegedly abusing a Japanese man and Hodgson revealed the 28-year-old striker had been spoken to by the Football Association hierarchy.

“That was dealt with by Dan Ashworth [FA director of elite development], who took him to one side and spoke to him. I spoke to him. That’s water under the bridge.”

BBC Sport – Football

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I can handle criticism – Rooney

staff — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 01:45:13 +0000

Rooney’s club goal drought was 878 minutes before he scored at Club Brugge

Wayne Rooney says he is strong enough to handle being criticised after he ended his 10-game goal drought for Manchester United.

Rooney has been under scrutiny after a poor start to the season but scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League.

“If I didn’t have a strong character that (the criticism) may have affected me but I know my quality,” he said.

“If the goals don’t go in I still bring a lot to my team-mates.”

England captain Rooney has been playing as United’s main striker so far this season but had not scored in the side’s opening four games of the campaign.

He went into the game in Brugge with his last United goal having come against Aston Villa in April, but he ended his 878-minute club scoring drought in emphatic manner.

His first was a dink over keeper Sinan Bolat before he sidefooted in and then swept in a shot, while Ander Herrera grabbed the fourth.

The victory secured United’s place in the Champions League group stages draw following a one-season absence.

“I wasn’t worried, if it was going on for three, four, five games more then maybe so but it’s early days and I knew when the chances came I’d take them,” he told BT Sport.

“As a striker obviously you want to score, everybody goes back to last season and it was so many games without scoring, but a lot of top quality strikers are yet to get off the mark at this stage.

“I understand because of my name and because of who I am it will get publicised a lot more. That’s my job and I understand that.”

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal highlighted Rooney’s strength of character following his hat-trick.

“It has given him always the confidence that a player needs,” said the Dutchman.

“But I think Wayne has a very strong mentality and with his level he shall always come back and he proved that.”

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Rooney insists 'the goals will come'

staff — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 23:46:56 +0000

Rooney (right) was criticised for his performance in Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Friday

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney says the “goals will come” after criticism of his start to the season.

Rooney, 29, has played as the main striker in his side’s opening games.

But he is yet to find the net, and some have doubted his credentials as an out-and-out goalscorer.

“I’ve had one bad game this season and everyone’s all over it. I’ve had that throughout my career but hopefully at the weekend I can get off the mark,” said the England captain.

“It’s early on in the season – we’re just three games in. I’ve experienced this criticism before and the goals will come, I know that.

“I understand I have to be the one who’s going to lead that line for us and try and find the goals for us.”

Wayne Rooney goals in last five seasons
Season	Appearances	Goals
2014-15	37	14
2013-14	40	19
2012-13	37	16
2011-12	43	34
2010-11	40	16

United boss Louis van Gaal let forwards Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao leave the club in the summer, leaving Rooney, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson as his three main striking options.

Rooney played most of last season in a deeper midfield role but in July Van Gaal revealed he wanted Rooney to play as his main striker this year – a role he last played in 2011-12, scoring 34 goals.

Memphis Depay, the £31m summer signing, can also play a forward role.

The Dutchman struck two goals in the Old Trafford side’s 3-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge on Tuesday.

And Rooney said: “It’s important that we all chip in.”

Rooney has failed to score in his side’s games against Tottenham, Aston Villa and Club Brugge this season.

He added: “I’m an honest guy. I know when I don’t play well and against Aston Villa I was below my standards.

“My mind is clear. I know how to play the role. It’s just a case of getting the chances and taking them, which I’m hopefully going to do soon.”

Rooney is expected to play as the main striker when Manchester United face Newcastle United on Saturday.

BBC Sport – Football

The post Rooney insists 'the goals will come' appeared first on Sports News One.

Rooney set to play for Everton side

staff — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:56:13 +0000

Rooney played 67 times and scored 15 goals for Everton

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has agreed to play for Everton in a testimonial for his “hero” and former team-mate Duncan Ferguson.

Rooney, 29, will play for the ex-Everton striker against Villarreal at Goodison Park on 2 August.

The Everton academy product has not always been warmly welcomed at his old ground since moving to United in 2004.

He angered some Everton fans in 2008 by kissing his United badge on his return to his former club.

“As a young lad growing up in Croxteth, Duncan Ferguson was a hero of mine,” Rooney told Everton’s official website.

“I cannot think of a better way to thank Dunc for all he did for me than turning out in his fully deserved testimonial match. Had he not asked me to play I would have gone and supported him on the day as I am sure most other Evertonians will.”

BBC Sport – Football

The post Rooney set to play for Everton side appeared first on Sports News One.

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