There’s no chance Roy Hodgson will drop Wayne Rooney, despite the many calls to do just that.
The England manager started all of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Rooney and Dele Alli in their drab 1-0 victory over Portugal on Thursday night, their final warm-up game before Euro 2016.
Chris Smalling got the only goal of the game, a headed finish following a cross from Raheem Sterling late in the second half, and very few England fans who watched the game at Wembley will be confident of the side ending their 50 year wait for another international title.
Hodgson’s decision to play a front two of Kane and Vardy, ahead of Rooney at the tip of the midfield diamond, with Alli in a deeper position, didn’t seem to work, and there was little doubt amongst England fans, and some pundits and journalists, who should be the fall guy.
Rooney may be England’s record goalscorer and captain, but many seemed to feel he’s now being accommodated, and Spurs youngster Alli should play in the advanced position he occupied against Portugal.
England begin their Euro 2016 campaign against Russia on June 11th.
If Rooney starts against Russia at 10 rather than Alli, there is no hope.
— Richard Williams (@rwilliams1947) June 2, 2016
Hodgson needs to have faith that Kane and others with pace and guile will score goals and leave Rooney out. He won't, of course.
— jim_price (@jim_price) June 2, 2016
"Roy Hodgson is trying to crowbar Rooney into the team at the expense of Alli and Kane" says Danny Mills pic.twitter.com/no15GYMd9g
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) June 2, 2016
– Pointless possession
– Not working the keeper
– Persevering with Rooney
– Odd corner takers
– Jammy win pic.twitter.com/R8lo6pDvRK— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) June 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/BreatheSport/status/738469292153438208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/ortielad/status/738466610562932736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Prefer Alli behind a partnership, ball players either side of Dier. Full backs bombing on. So no Rooney, however unpopular that may be.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) June 2, 2016
