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Rooney Must Not Go To The Euros

Tony Horne explain how the Wayne Rooney ban is actually a blessing in disguise.

By Tony Horne

14 Oct 2011, 17:00

Bar that brilliant start in Portugal 2004 where he made England’s star man Michael Owen look like a pensioner, Wayne Rooney has delivered nothing but injury and red cards at major tournaments for England.

In Poland next summer we have already been spared that embarrassment – he is banned for three games and will have resort to watching on the box like the rest of us. Or perhaps in the bookies.
On this basis alone, he shouldn’t be near the squad from now until next autumn – let him go and have five different holidays that the rest of us will find obnoxious – Barbados today, L.A. tomorrow and give him a career break that he won’t get again until it’s all over. Imagine how Fergie must be smiling.

Now, I don’t say let him have time off to recharge batteries as a gesture of sympathy. Absolutely, not. The tackle was a flying disgrace as usual. But if you aren’t going to show before the group stages then frankly, don’t show at all. Take a time out, kiddo, and have a think. There is a very good argument that England won’t progress too much further – we are, despite what your mate will tell you in the pub next summer, a last sixteen team with little finesse and grace, low on guile and skill, and far too often knackered by the time the tournament comes along.

Equally, what price an over-charged Rooney in the first game past the group stages charging out of the blocks, ridiculously pumped up and lightening striking twice? Who wouldn’t put money on that? When Ronaldo got him sent off, you may recall he missed the early games then too. Ah yes, the halcyon days of the metatarsal injuries that plagued that Sven era. Fabio needs to understand his own roots to progress from here – this is the key moment of his over-priced regime. Today, he must decide if he is destined to be an over-priced flop, or a genius, and his thinking right now determines his legacy. He needs to think Italian.

Time and time again as the bandwagon of hype crashes at home to a ruthless German side or a bunch of clinical penalty takers, the Italians positively limp through their group stages showing no kind of romance that you associate with that country. In fact, more an industry you associate with Teesside. They graft as a team and suddenly, written off, they are in the closing stages. That is where we need to be and the only time I can think we did reasonably well in my memory (excluding the home ticket of Euro 96) was when Sir Bobby Robson’s team stuttered through Ireland and Cameroon and then were dependent on a David Platt stunner in the 120th minute - ah let’s hear it for 1990 and Bobby’s little jig.

Of course, you only find that Italian steel when you are a unit. The one thing that the pathetically called Golden Generation always lacked was cohesion. We spent a decade discussing whether Lampard and Gerrard could play together and let’s face it, you can count on one hand the number of great games Super Frank has had for his country. We have had no left footers, bowed at the altar of Beckham long past his sell-by date and frequently taken knackered donkeys to the tournaments.
Heck, under Steve Mclaren we weren’t even that good.

Listen – they’ve done us a favour.

It’s only October. We have time to plan and blood the young – Ashley or otherwise. Take the bull by the horns and get some team spirit. Don’t hang your hat on Rio – he’s long gone. Look forward and build unity, pick a team that functions and not a few individuals who might shine. Let’s not go on a wing and a prayer – let’s go fired up with eleven players you don’t want to pin up on your wall but you know are solid and honest.

Let’s go win the thing – without Rooney. What a statement that makes. Just like The Ashes post Flintoff. And let’s go win ugly. Ironic, choice of words that, given Shrek’s absence.