The reasons why Wayne Rooney failed at the World Cup
“I know for us to win, it will be more or less down to me to score the goals, whether it is now, or later in the competition. As long as I play, I know we stand a good chance.”
Well Wayne Rooney did play for England at the World Cup, but his words – spoken before last week’s clash with Algeria – never came true. Poor performances, a lack of discipline and a failure to translate his club form onto the international stage blighted his tournament. He was England’s brightest star heading to South Africa, but why was he unable to shine there?
Firstly, you have to look at his position in the team.
Having just enjoyed the season of his life playing upfront for Manchester United, Rooney was asked to play more of a supporting role by Fabio Capello.
Many of his thirty-four goals in all competitions for United in 2009/10 came from close range. He became more of a “poacher”, gobbling up the chances that came his way – many from the crosses of new team-mate Antonio Valencia, who appeared to have been signed by Sir Alex Ferguson with the express instructions just to provide goals for Rooney.
That he did, with a lot of the forward’s goals coming with his head, but after being asked to play just behind a main striker – Emile Heskey in England’s first two games, Jermain Defoe in the last two – he was unable to get into the penalty area as often, and so he had less chances to score.
Indeed, the only real good goalscoring opportunity that he had came in the second half of England’s match with Slovenia, when goalkeeper Samir Handanovič tipped his effort onto the post. Other than that, it’s hard to think of any chances he had.
It was Defoe who was playing on the shoulder of the defenders in that game – scoring a goal – and so Rooney was forced to play deeper, linking midfield and attack.
It’s difficult to argue with many people’s suggestions that England would have been better off had Capello chosen to play Rooney as a lone forward, supported by Steven Gerrard just behind him – in a role that the England captain plays for his club side, Liverpool, just behind Fernando Torres.
That would have allowed the duo – probably England’s best two players – to link up more, and would surely have provided Rooney with more opportunities to score goals, and therefore benefitted the team.
Yet Capello constantly ignored those calls, and the frustration seemed to get to Rooney. His infamous outburst in the immediate aftermath of the dismal draw with Algeria spoke volumes. It’s what his tournament will be remembered for, there was little else to speak of after all.
Indeed, his ego has been cited by many as another reason for his underperformance.
There is an arrogance about Rooney, and while that can be an advantage at times – he’s good, and he knows he’s good – it can also upset his team-mates. He wants to be seen as the main man, and so he has to be ready to carry the can if things don’t go to plan.
Of course England’s elimination wasn’t solely down to an underperforming Rooney, there were other players who didn’t step up to the plate as well, but the fact remains that had England’s talisman been on form, then there’s no doubt that they would have been a much tougher prospect.
He went into the tournament apparently ready to rival Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.
Wayne Rooney will leave the World Cup in no doubt that he’s still a long way off that title.
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