2 SATURDAY VISION, OCTOBER 8, 2016 GOOAL! EUROPEAN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS NO ERROR Euro exit was a big lesson for us — England LONDON

ngland have learnt from their Ehumiliating Euro 2016 exit against Iceland and are eager to display a more “streetwise” style Today Azerbaijan v Norway, 8pm Slovakia. (Sports Arena) ers against Malta and Slovenia, left That was the only match for Eng- Germany v Czech Rep, 9.45pm back Kyle Walker said. land manager Sam Allardyce before (World Football) England have endured a rocky patch off his shock departure last week and, N. Ireland v San Marino, 9.45pm the pitch since their shock last 16 loss to with interim boss Southgate prepar- (Sports Focus) Iceland in the European Championship in ing to name his side for Saturday’s Armenia v Romania, 8pm June -- losing two managers in the space of qualifi er against Malta, Rooney has (Sports Premium) three months. Roy Hodgson left following been quizzed about his preferred Montenegro v Kazakhstan, 8pm the Euros debacle while Sam Allardyce was role once again. (Sports Life) sacked last week following an undercover “I don’t know, it’s a question for Poland v Denmark, 9.45pm newspaper sting. Gareth,” a visibly annoyed Rooney (Sports Premium) Walker attributed their Euro 2016 exit to told reporters. England v Malta, 8pm a lack of an alternative game plan. “The question of where I’m going (World Football) “I just think we don’t need to play into to play... it’s getting a bit tired the Scotland v Lithuania, 9.45pm their game. I thought probably in the sum- group also includes Scotland and question of whether I’m going to (Sports Life) mer, that’s what we did and we didn't re- Lithuania. play as a striker, in midfi eld or as a Slovenia v Slovakia, 9.45pm ally have a different plan,” the Tottenham Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has number 10. Hotspur defender told reporters. promised to accept whatever role “I’ve answered that question “It was ‘we are going to play this way’, Southgate wants him to play after many times and it’s the same and if it didn’t work, then we didn’t really admitting he is tired of the debate answer: I’ll play wherever the man- know what to do. But I feel for the Malta about his best position. ager wants me to play. game we have different dimensions now. Rooney has spent the best days “I don’t pick myself, I haven’t We have spoken... that if something is not of his glittering career as a striker, picked myself ever and I will play working, we need to go to this plan. but he was deployed in midfi eld to instructions. “And I think as soon as we just start gel- by then England boss Roy Hodg- “I’m sure the instructions from ling together and being a bit more — Eric son at Euro 2016 after fi nishing Gareth, whether it’s to play or not Dier said it — streetwise, it will be a lot last season with Manchester to play, are instructions I will carry more benefi cial for England and for us as a United in the same position. out to the best of my ability.” group of players.” Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Rooney’s clear irritation at the Former Under-21 manager Gareth United to replace Louis van Gaal constant questions compounds a Southgate was put in charge for England’s has seen Rooney shifted back to a diffi cult time for the 30-year-old at World Cup qualifi ers at home to Malta on more attacking berth. club level. Saturday and away to Slovenia three days However, the England captain Named on the bench for United’s later. often positioned himself in a last three matches, he arrives on England pipped Slovakia 1-0 in their deep-lying role in last month’s England duty in the unusual posi- opening Group F game last month. The World Cup qualifi er against tion of looking for game time. ‘Allardyce snub was a wake-up call for me’ LONDON of Allardyce’s only Three Lions “You shouldn’t just be able to I guess it was a bit different for for England since I was 18 and wake–up call that you need to squad for the World Cup quali- walk into an England squad,” me to be left out. while I wouldn’t say I took it be on top of your game to keep fi er in Slovakia last month. said the winger/midfi elder, who “At the same time it is what all for granted it just seemed pushing yourself, because mak- Allardyce did not even bother has been recalled by interim you should expect because you to be a part of my season – to ing England squads is not easy. lain has confessed A to call or text the 24-times boss Gareth Southgate for the need to be playing at the high- play for Arsenal and to play for “I didn’t speak to Big Sam Sam Allardyce’s England capped player, who was a World Cup qualfi ers with Malta est levels to earn the right to get England. at all. I was disappointed but I snub had been just the regular under previous boss and Slovenia. a call-up. “And so to be available and thought I needed to do more jolt he needed. Roy Hodgson, to explain leav- “But having been involved in “It provided a kick up the to be feeling good and fi t – to and that’s what I’ve been trying The Arsenal star was left out ing him out. a fair few, especially under Roy, backside. I have been playing not be in, yeah, it was a jolt, a to do when given the chances.”