Internationals

Refreshed Rooney needs to be England’s difference

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Wayne Rooney has begun the season in devastating form, spearheading a Manchester United team which has thoroughly impressed at the start of this new season. After a tumultuous period last season, whereby a loss of fitness led to the most difficult point of this professional career so far, Rooney this season once more seems like one of the World’s greats. Great news for Manchester United, but even better for England. Despite England’s growing pool of gifted young players, England are a far greater force with him than they are without him. The Switzerland game proved this. Two goals against Bulgaria confirmed it.

England need to re-discover some of their form from the earlier qualifying matches. After starting in an optimistic fashion, especially taking into account the World Cup problems, momentum has once again begun to ebb away. The cancelled game against the Dutch was not a help, and now England are faced with pressure of unnecessarily important games based on the level of their opposition. Had England have taken full points from Montenegro and Switzerland, both at Wembley, their would be far less pressure on needing to gain anything away from home against Bulgaria and later Montenegro.

Although Wayne Rooney has not scored recently in an England shirt his presence is extremely important. This ‘next level’ he has discovered will most definitely paper over the persisting cracks in Fabio Capello’s regime should six points be picked up over the next two games. Capello especially will be praying this to be the case, a stellar performance for Rooney will get the press off his back for a little longer.

As fun as it would be to compare Wayne Rooney’s return to form and Samson, the greek mythological figure who’s power was linked to his hair, it would seem that Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United team mates would be the more realistic reason for his success. A persisting trust and patience in the player and the summer’s arrival of Ashley Young and last seasons form of Berbatov and Chicarito helped to take the weight of expectation his shoulders. Now Manchester United have several match winners and it is not now solely Rooney’s responsibility.

England though don’t have Manchester United’s riches. Ashley Young is looking better and better, but he will need more time still until he is consistently replicating his club form for his country. For Rooney, when with England, the pressure on him is greater. Hopefully this re-energized and more mature version will be the difference.  Other players for the national side, who also have that talismanic ‘x-factor’ are ruled out with injury, such as Steven Gerrard and even Jack Wilshere. England’s reliance on Rooney then, for now at least, is extreme. If form and statistics are left to dictate matters England should have no problems against Bulgaria or Wales over the coming days.

England must go into their final group game away at Montenegro top of the pile. What Montenegro lack in individual talent, they make up for in organization, which too often has been enough to de-rail English hopes. An England charged by Rooney for this level of opposition should be confident. But still this is England, so who knows whats going to happen…

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