SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014

Rooney’s highs and lows

LONDON: As prepares to win his 100th England against Slovenia yesterday, AFP Sports looks back at the highs and lows of his 11-year international career:

HIGHS Youngest England goal-scorer Rooney lost his record as England’s youngest play- er to in May 2006, but he remains his country’s youngest ever goal-scorer. He opened his England account at the age of 17 years and 317 days with an 18-yard half-volley in a 2-1 win away to Macedonia in September 2003.

Euro 2004 explosion Rooney’s emergence as a global star can be traced back to the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, when he terrified opposition defences with his direct running as England reached the quarter-finals. His four goals saw him named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament and he left boyhood club Everton for Manchester United shortly after in a £27 million ($42.7 million, 34.2 million euros) transfer.

Leading competitive scorer Rooney’s goal in a World Cup qualifier against Montenegro in October 2013 was his 27th competi- tive international strike, setting a new record. Overall he has now scored 43 goals, six fewer than all-time leading scorer .

Captaincy After retired in the aftermath of England’s group-phase elimination at this year’s BURTON-ON-TRENT: England’s Wayne Rooney takes part in a training session at St George’s Park near Burton-on-Trent, cen- World Cup, Rooney was handed the captaincy by tral England on the eve of their Euro 2016 qualifying match against Slovenia at today. — AFP manager . “As a kid I always loved the occasion of watching a big England game on the tel- 100-cap Rooney faces legacy questions evision,” Rooney said. “Back then I had a burning ambition to play for my country. Now to be appointed captain is beyond my wildest dreams.” LONDON: Wayne Rooney will make his 100th England appear- Slovenia counterpart, visiting captain Bostjan Cesar, will also be ance today when Roy Hodgson’s side attempt to extend their 100 celebrating a milestone as he stands to win his 81st cap, which LOWS percent record in Euro 2016 qualifying at home to Slovenia. The will see him surpass Zlatko Zahovic as his country’s most-capped Metatarsal woe Manchester United striker, 29, will lead the team out at Wembley player. Rooney was tipped to become one of the stars of Stadium accompanied by his two young sons, Kai and Klay, as he The Chievo centre-back was injured by a tackle from Rooney the 2006 World Cup after two impressive seasons with becomes the ninth England player to take his number of caps when Slovenia last visited Wembley, in September 2009, and the United, but he broke a bone in his foot in a 3-0 defeat into three figures. Rooney is on course to break former goalkeep- 32-year-old says that he has not forgotten the incident. “My at Chelsea just six weeks before the tournament er Peter Shilton’s 125-cap appearance record and is also only six memories aren’t the nicest. It wasn’t nice, what he did,” said began. After undergoing intensive treatment, he was goals short of Bobby Charlton’s England scoring record of 49 Cesar. “But I’m not interested in Rooney; I’m interested in the declared fit to play in Germany and strode into the goals. But having failed to shine for England at a major tourna- match and our desire to avenge our two defeats against England team hotel declaring: “The big man is back in ment since making his breakthrough at Euro 2004, he accepts he England.” After a 1-0 loss in Estonia in their opening game, Srecko town!” But his tournament ended in disgrace when he still has to prove himself worthy of comparison with World Cup Katanec’s side won 1-0 at home to Switzerland and then recorded was sent off in the quarter-finals for stamping on winners such as Charlton. a 2-0 victory away to Lithuania, leaving them in second place in Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho. “To get 100 caps for England, there’s not many players who the group. Talented Salzburg forward Kevin Kampl is a doubt due have done it,” Rooney writes in the program for today’s match. “It to injury, but 35-year-old striker Milivoje Novakovic is fit to lead Broadside at fans would be a great achievement. I’ll be proud to join that club and the line and will look to add to his three goals in qualifying to Rooney top-scored for England with nine goals in it is something that myself and my family would be honored by. date. —AFP qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, but he flopped at “But I could sit here saying I’ve got 200 caps and 100 goals for my the tournament in South Africa, where ’s side were humiliated by Germany in the last 16. The country, but the ultimate is to win a trophy and that’s what we all burly striker snapped as he walked off the pitch fol- want to do. “That’s why we play football, to win. That’s the target lowing a dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria in the group and hopefully sometime soon we can achieve that.” He adds: Matches on TV phase, sarcastically scowling at a television camera: “Obviously I’m not going to be as big a legend as Sir Bobby (Local Timings) “Nice to see your home (own) fans booing you!” Charlton-he’s won the World Cup with England-so to eclipse that I’d have to win the World Cup, which would be a massive Euro Qualifiers 2016 Seeing red in Podgorica achievement.” Rooney was thought to have overcome his discipli- nary issues prior to the Euro 2012 qualifying cam- Milestone for Cesar Luxembourg v Ukraine 20:00 paign, only to be sent off for angrily kicking out at After their group-phase exit at the World Cup, England have Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5 Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in England’s taken control of Group E by winning their first three games with- England v Slovenia 20:00 last match in Podgorica. His ban was reduced from out conceding a goal and will be looking to record a record- Abu Dhabi Sports HD 4 three matches to two on appeal, but he still missed equalling sixth clean sheet. With Liverpool striker Daniel Austria v Russia 20:00 England’s first two games of the tournament in Sturridge still sidelined by a calf problem, Arsenal forward Danny Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Poland and Ukraine. Welbeck is expected to hold on to his place up front alongside Moldova v Liechtenstein 20:00 former United colleague Rooney. is in line for a Disappointment in Brazil recall at the tip of Hodgson’s midfield diamond, having con- Abu Dhabi Sports HD 6 Rooney went to this year’s World Cup in Brazil tentiously started last month’s 1-0 win in Estonia on the bench Macedonia v Slovakia 22:45 vowing to enjoy the experience, but he met with dis- after reportedly complaining of fatigue. Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5 appointment once again as England crashed out in Arsenal winger Theo Walcott and 20-year-old Everton play- Spain v Belarus 22:45 the group phase for the first time since 1958. Rooney maker are both back in the squad after spells on the Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 ended his long wait for a first World Cup goal against sidelines, while West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino will Switzerland v Lithuania 22:45 Uruguay, but saw his place in the team called into hope to win his first cap. and Abu Dhabi Sports HD 6 question due to the emergence of Liverpool’s have been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury, but Raheem Sterling. — AFP Montenegro v Sweden 22:45 both players were more likely to have featured in England’s Abu Dhabi Sports friendly with Scotland in Glasgow on Tuesday anyway. Rooney’s