Wayne Rooney has definitely had better nights.
He may have scored England’s solitary goal in their embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Iceland via the penalty spot, but Rooney has faced the brunt of criticism from dismayed fans as far as the playing staff are concerned.
Roy Hodgson has been rightly lambasted for his witless management of the team, and has duly resigned, but as far as the woeful display on the pitch goes, ire has been focused on England’s captain.
It is perhaps unfair to judge a striker playing in midfield on a single game, but many at home were tearing their hair out at the sheer number of times Rooney was misplacing passes, miscontrolling the ball, and tripping over his own feet.
Here are just some of the fed up criticisms…
https://twitter.com/iShubz_/status/747590864000720896
https://twitter.com/chuzzyegwuatu/status/747538490385178625
There's little bad "tactically" from a manager when midfielders trip their own feet trying to control the ball #Rooney #ENG
— Ben Coldwell (@BMCnine1) June 27, 2016
England are looking clueless, gutless and passionless, there's no movement at all and as for Rooney he can't even control the ball. #ENGISL
— Bully Arsenal ⛔️ (@MrBullyArsenal) June 27, 2016
Rooney's been really poor this second half. Efforts there but passing and ball control have been abysmal.
— Mo Chatra (@MoChatra) June 27, 2016
Rooney has been absolutely diabolical. Meant to be leading by example as captain, can't even control a ball
— Alex (@Alex94_mufc) June 27, 2016
When you watch the collated snapshots below, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Especially as some had previously been comparing the Manchester United forward to former great Paul Scholes, and suggesting he could do a similar job for both club and country as the ‘Ginger prince’…
O Captain! My Captain! https://t.co/Hi1WDLkGrl
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) June 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Half_A_Goal/status/747797233295319040
https://twitter.com/7amkickoff/status/747527013448060928
