International Football thread

[SaintPowelly]

So Wayne Rooney who is nothing more than a mercenary, who wanted to leave Man Utd unless they paid him 300k a week and doesn't bother putting any effort into England games has been rewarded with a double captaincy, don't you just love football.

[Aidan11]

Too much is made of the England captain. Just do what other countries do and give it to the player with the most caps.

[yuppie]

Rooney is in decline. He is not the player he was, and he appears to be doing nothing about it.

Start fresh England.

[andy]

I would have given it to Joe Hart.

[Aidan11]

Didn't realise Rooney had 40 goals for England.

[dan08]

Didn't realise Rooney had 40 goals for England.

His record is very good although most of his best performances come outside of the major tournaments.

[GGAS]

He's good at poaching goals against Andorra and Luxembourg but can't do it in major tournaments. Backwards step for England, should have given it to Cahill.

[yuppie]

He's good at poaching goals against Andorra and Luxembourg but can't do it in major tournaments. Backwards step for England, should have given it to Cahill.

He has 1 goal in world cup finals from 11 games. Though hes not always been fully fit. And he has not scored in the euro finals since 2004 where he had a great tournament. Pretty sure he has not scored in the Euro finals since 2004.

He has scored well in qualification matches for tournaments, but mostly against the lesser teams. He has been vital for England qualification in the past, but he is not as good as he was.

There is certainly question marks about him in major tournaments. Also im not sure he has a position anymore and England just try to find a way to make him fit into the team.

[shankycricket]

I would have given it to Joe Hart.

Shouldn't even be in the side. Fraser is better.

Rooney as captain is disappointing but good to see the back of Glen Johnson. Chambers is an excellent pick, a real talent. Dunno much about the other newcomers though.

Walcott and Flanagan still injured, presumably?

[Gingerfinch]

I would have given it to Joe Hart.

Shouldn't even be in the side. Fraser is better.

Rooney as captain is disappointing but good to see the back of Glen Johnson. Chambers is an excellent pick, a real talent. Dunno much about the other newcomers though.

Walcott and Flanagan still injured, presumably?

Walcott is, not sure how long for. He'd be in my starting XI, or as an impact sub when all are fit.

[shankycricket]

He's good at poaching goals against Andorra and Luxembourg but can't do it in major tournaments. Backwards step for England, should have given it to Cahill.

Agreed, Cahill would've been my pick too. Rooney shouldn't even be in the team. I, for one, can't get rid of the so called golden generation soon enough and start afresh with a bunch of fearless youngsters without excess baggage. In 6 years' time, we may have a team that could compete.

Rooney is in decline and even at his best, did ****all against big teams when it mattered. As you say, a minnow basher. Makes no sense whatsoever.

[shankycricket]

He's good at poaching goals against Andorra and Luxembourg but can't do it in major tournaments. Backwards step for England, should have given it to Cahill.

He has 1 goal in world cup finals from 11 games. Though hes not always been fully fit. And he has not scored in the euro finals since 2004 where he had a great tournament. Pretty sure he has not scored in the Euro finals since 2004.

He has scored well in qualification matches for tournaments, but mostly against the lesser teams. He has been vital for England qualification in the past, but he is not as good as he was.

There is certainly question marks about him in major tournaments. Also im not sure he has a position anymore and England just try to find a way to make him fit into the team.

Think he scored 1 goal in the 2012 Euros (against Ukraine, if memory serves) but I agree with you really.

Time for the likes of Sturridge, Sterling, Lambert, Ox, etc.

[Gingerfinch]

Rooney scored loads in the world cup qualifiers, and tbh, is still our best attacking threat. He's not a 'great' player, but then who is, in the England team.

[shankycricket]

An attacking threat that has as many WC goals as Emile Heskey? Ok. I don't understand what we lose from going with an all youth approach. I don't think we'll fail to qualify without him nor do I see us winning the Euros or WC with him. Blooding youngsters now may reap fruits in a few years' time as opposed to sticking with a mercenary, who is a proven failure on the big stage and who is in terminal decline.

[Gingerfinch]

An attacking threat that has as many WC goals as Emile Heskey? Ok. I don't understand what we lose from going with an all youth approach. I don't think we'll fail to qualify without him nor do I see us winning the Euros or WC with him. Blooding youngsters now may reap fruits in a few years' time as opposed to sticking with a mercenary, who is a proven failure on the big stage and who is in terminal decline.

Rooney is still relatively young though, and lets not forget we have to get to Paris first.