England's Rooney dilemma
FOLLOWING an uneven display against Italy in his side's opening World Cup defeat, Wayne Rooney is at risk of turning from England's biggest asset into manager Roy Hodgson's biggest headache.
The Manchester United striker, 28, has been his country's talisman for the best part of a decade, but as Hodgson looks to flood his team with youthful vim and vigour, there is a fear that Rooney is starting to get in the way.
Rooney's diminished status was clear from the moment Saturday's game in Manaus kicked off, as he padded over to the left flank in order to accommodate Liverpool's teenage livewire Raheem Sterling in the No 10 role.
While Sterling's electric pace and neat close control make him an obvious attacking threat, it was also with defensive considerations in mind that Hodgson decided to deploy him in the centre. He explained that Sterling's pace and sharpness made him an ideal candidate to nullify Italy midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Daniele de Rossi, and while he buzzed about to useful effect, Rooney's defensive contribution was markedly less successful.
England left-back Leighton Baines was left exposed throughout the first half, with Rooney unable to prevent Italy pair Matteo Darmian and Antonio Candreva from doubling up on Baines due to his exertions further up the field.
Hodgson addressed the problem by getting Rooney to swap places with Danny Welbeck at half-time, but five minutes later Baines again found himself isolated as Candreva teed up Mario Balotelli for what would prove to be the decisive goal in a 2-1 win.
"There are things to work on, because down that left-hand side we had problems," former England captain Alan Shearer said. "Rooney was not enjoying his role there in the first half because he was having to work so hard."
He fared marginally better in his preferred domain at the other end of the pitch. Despite creating Daniel Sturridge's equaliser with a sumptuous left- wing cross, he touched the ball only twice inside the Italy area. With Sturridge now England's undisputed first-choice No 9 and Sterling apparently preferable in both a defensive and attacking sense, Rooney's place in the team could be under threat. – AFP
