Wayne Rooney Stands Tall As Fabio Capello's Options Dwindle
Wayne Rooney scored two goals but the strikers around him fell foul of injury as England saw off Slovakia
Wayne Rooney will be burdened as well as honored on Wednesday. His 50th cap is to be accompanied by the responsibility that comes with being the sole, senior attacker fit to face Ukraine in the World Cup qualifier. Emile Heskey has withdrawn because of a hamstring injury and with the exception of Rooney, no other striker has Fabio Capello's unqualified trust.
While Peter Crouch has collected eight caps under the Italian, all have come as a substitute. Darren Bent has been added to the party but Capello's only use of him to date was as a replacement for Jermain Defoe in the friendly with Germany. It is as well that the manager favors a lone-striker system because he scarcely has the means now for any other formation.
Initially, Capello was optimistic about Heskey's prospects of recovering and it might be wise not to assume that Crouch, who took a kick to the thigh on Saturday, will be in condition to play from the start. In any case, a degree of improvisation is being enforced. Crouch has neither the instincts of a target man nor the muscle of Heskey, Carlton Cole or Dean Ashton, who have all been utilized by Capello.
The Portsmouth attacker will have to adapt as best he can. The alternatives would be to bring in Bent from kick-off, even though he was surplus to requirements when the squad was originally assembled, or deploy Rooney as a lone striker. The latter option would introduce an unhealthy element of suspense.
Wembley could watch Rooney take on the Ukraine defence while also battling to retain his composure. It does not suit him to operate with his back to goal. There is a sense of claustrophobia and volatility when he is in an area where a centre-half can mark him. These circumstances make exorbitant demands of his small store of stoicism. A craving for vengeance can overwhelm him and it is no coincidence that his one red card with England came when he was a lone striker, in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
Capello will be keen to ensure that Rooney continues to enjoy the liberty that he is exploiting to such effect. He has now scored seven goals in his last four England appearances. That compares well with his total of 13 for Manchester United over the season. Rooney's late goals against Slovakia were smartly taken, the first headed home after David Beckham, on the occasion of his 109th cap, had crossed as expertly as ever and the second coming from a Frank Lampard pass. Rooney was thriving then as a solo striker, but it should be borne in mind that Slovakia had capitulated.
While the United player enjoyed his 20th and 21st goals for England, Capello must have been even more appreciative of the rapport between Rooney and Steven Gerrard, prior to the Liverpool captain's replacement at half-time. The debate over which should play towards the left of the trio of attacking midfielders was redundant when they had the confidence to interchange. The two of them showed that accomplished players can reach an understanding.
Capello's approval must still have had its limits. Sloppiness sneaked in and, for instance, the error of Ashley Cole's ill-advised pass was compounded when Matthew Upson let the ball run across him instead of clearing immediately. Robert Vittek capitalized by smacking a shot that David James palmed over the bar. Slovakia might have been level at the interval.
The opener had come in the seventh minute when Rooney and Gerrard combined on the left before Heskey bundled in a finish from a cross that had come to him awkwardly. Soon, the scorer was heading high from Rooney's delivery. England had good moments, but only crushed the opposition belatedly.
Slovakia, ultimately, were exhausted and not even a half-dozen substitutions could restore resilience. Lampard broke through for the third goal, from a pass by the substitute Michael Carrick, eight minutes from the close. The match served its purpose and Aaron Lennon, back in the side after two years, played as if he had never been away. In other words he is still fast and still erratic with his crossing, despite hints of progress for Tottenham.
England are far from perfect, but they have a stability that should only be compromised slightly by the injuries. This friendly was a valid exercise and, thanks to Rooney and Gerrard, the side also entertained the Wembley crowd.
While Peter Crouch has collected eight caps under the Italian, all have come as a substitute. Darren Bent has been added to the party but Capello's only use of him to date was as a replacement for Jermain Defoe in the friendly with Germany. It is as well that the manager favors a lone-striker system because he scarcely has the means now for any other formation.
Initially, Capello was optimistic about Heskey's prospects of recovering and it might be wise not to assume that Crouch, who took a kick to the thigh on Saturday, will be in condition to play from the start. In any case, a degree of improvisation is being enforced. Crouch has neither the instincts of a target man nor the muscle of Heskey, Carlton Cole or Dean Ashton, who have all been utilized by Capello.
The Portsmouth attacker will have to adapt as best he can. The alternatives would be to bring in Bent from kick-off, even though he was surplus to requirements when the squad was originally assembled, or deploy Rooney as a lone striker. The latter option would introduce an unhealthy element of suspense.
Wembley could watch Rooney take on the Ukraine defence while also battling to retain his composure. It does not suit him to operate with his back to goal. There is a sense of claustrophobia and volatility when he is in an area where a centre-half can mark him. These circumstances make exorbitant demands of his small store of stoicism. A craving for vengeance can overwhelm him and it is no coincidence that his one red card with England came when he was a lone striker, in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
Capello will be keen to ensure that Rooney continues to enjoy the liberty that he is exploiting to such effect. He has now scored seven goals in his last four England appearances. That compares well with his total of 13 for Manchester United over the season. Rooney's late goals against Slovakia were smartly taken, the first headed home after David Beckham, on the occasion of his 109th cap, had crossed as expertly as ever and the second coming from a Frank Lampard pass. Rooney was thriving then as a solo striker, but it should be borne in mind that Slovakia had capitulated.
While the United player enjoyed his 20th and 21st goals for England, Capello must have been even more appreciative of the rapport between Rooney and Steven Gerrard, prior to the Liverpool captain's replacement at half-time. The debate over which should play towards the left of the trio of attacking midfielders was redundant when they had the confidence to interchange. The two of them showed that accomplished players can reach an understanding.
Capello's approval must still have had its limits. Sloppiness sneaked in and, for instance, the error of Ashley Cole's ill-advised pass was compounded when Matthew Upson let the ball run across him instead of clearing immediately. Robert Vittek capitalized by smacking a shot that David James palmed over the bar. Slovakia might have been level at the interval.
The opener had come in the seventh minute when Rooney and Gerrard combined on the left before Heskey bundled in a finish from a cross that had come to him awkwardly. Soon, the scorer was heading high from Rooney's delivery. England had good moments, but only crushed the opposition belatedly.
Slovakia, ultimately, were exhausted and not even a half-dozen substitutions could restore resilience. Lampard broke through for the third goal, from a pass by the substitute Michael Carrick, eight minutes from the close. The match served its purpose and Aaron Lennon, back in the side after two years, played as if he had never been away. In other words he is still fast and still erratic with his crossing, despite hints of progress for Tottenham.
England are far from perfect, but they have a stability that should only be compromised slightly by the injuries. This friendly was a valid exercise and, thanks to Rooney and Gerrard, the side also entertained the Wembley crowd.
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