Wayne Rooney - The England Debate Rages

Englands recent friendly game against Germany at the weekend proved one thing, we do have reliable goalscorers in our country and sometimes all they need is the right opportunity. Now we have talk that maybe Rooney isn't the greatest striker we have and maybe, just maybe, his name should not be the first one on the team sheet. Selecting by merit rather than name, now there is a concept. Will Wayne Rooney be selected for the Euros? I think he still will but the talk now is not as it was four years ago as he must go for England to compete. Just over four years ago, when Mello Capello was still in charge, I wrote this on the Rooney selection debate, and the general England boys club where the same names are selected each tournament and expecting different results.


I am amazed by the news coming out of the media regarding Wayne Rooneys ban. After what was a stupid lash out in Englands last qualifying game Mr Rooney has been handed a three match ban, which will see him out of the Euro group stage. That is if Mr Capello takes him, which I have no doubt he will.

However he will only be 26 years old when the Euros kick off next year and I think that leaving him behind for the competition may once and for all focus the guy on what is important in International competitions. To take him would be to reward him and how will he learn when there are no consequences? Take a child around a grocery store and if the child has a tantrum you do not then reward them at the end with a candy bar, even though they inevitably improve their behaviour when standing in line next to the candy racks! Leave him behind, let him watch it on TV and hopefully he will think twice before lashing out again.

I do not think that Capello should just leave Rooney at home either, I think Terry, Lampard and Gerrard have a case to answer for their performances in the recent tournaments. Maybe it would be more beneficial for England to shift their focus from actually winning a tournament to looking to the future and giving future players much needed experience.

Supporters paid lots of money following England to South Africa last summer and for what? A handful of half hearted performances. The reason given was that the Premier League season was too long and players were tired. Really? How many other teams had players in the squad that played in England for the season? Then, as if to rub salt in the wounds, the English supporters travelled home and were met with pictures of the 'tired' England players partying and living it up. Every big International competition is the same.

Playing for England used to be a privilege but in recent years it has turned into a boy's club for a select few. Despite the change of managers at the helm of England and the lack lustre performances the same handful of players continue to be selected.

Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979