Left Striker: Wayne Rooney

Coauthored by Seth Johnson and Stephen Kirchner

Wayne_Rooney_Euro_2012_vs_Italy

Obtained from Google search “Wayne Rooney,” labeled for noncommercial reuse

Height: 176 cm

Weight: 86 kg

Senior Experience: 2002-present

Caps: 109

Club: Manchester United (English Premier League)

Season Statistics: 7 Goals; 4 Assists; 16 Tackles

Role and Projected Tournament Outlook:

The last vestige of the Golden Generation for England, Wayne Rooney is the most reliable striker upfront for Hodgson this summer. After being named captain following the retirement of Steven Gerrard in 2014, Rooney leads the Three Lions into France with a litany of experience and three World Cup appearances under his belt. The youngest player to play and also score for England when he first debuted, Rooney is now the highest goal scorer and fourth-most capped player in the nation’s history (Snowball, 2015).

The biggest storyline following Rooney into the Euros this summer is whether he should continue to play upfront, or if he should be replaced by the younger talent around him in the English lineup. After making eight starts and scoring seven goals in qualifying (UEFA, 2016)—the most of any English player in that span—Rooney remains the most reliable option upfront for the Three Lions to bring home an international crown. Even though he will be 31 at the time of the European championships, Rooney has shown an extra responsibility in the lineup as captain and goal scorer in his ability to play at the striker position (McNulty, “Euro,” 2015).

With his age becoming a factor and other up-and-coming English talent like Harry Kane or the upstart phenomenon that is Jamie Vardy pressing him for the starting position, this could very well be his last chance to substantiate an England career largely marred by disappointment on the international stage. But as it stands, his attitude, ability and leadership on the pitch will keep him solidly in Hodgson’s starting XI, and will make England much better as long as he is on the field in France (McNulty, “Euro,” 2015).

 

How to cite this article: “Left Striker: Wayne Rooney” Written by Seth Johnson and Stephen Kirchner (2016), European Cup 2016 Guide, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University, http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/european-cup-2016-guide/english-national-team/englands-projecting-starting-xi/left-striker-wayne-rooney/ (accessed on (date)).

 

<Ret. to Right Mid: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain        Proj. Starting XI       Adv. to Right Striker: Harry Kane>