Just a day after new England manager Sam Allardyce confirmed Wayne Rooney as his choice for Captain, Wayne Rooney announced that he will retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup. The Manchester United forward is England’s all time leading scorer, with 53 goals from his 115 caps, however the 30-year-old was utilised as a midfielder during the recent Euro 2016 tournament by former boss Roy Hodgson.
England kicked off their qualification campaign for the tournament in Russia this week with an away tie in Slovakia, with Allardyce keen to get his tenor in charge off to a winning start. After finding themselves alongside the likes of Scotland, Slovenia and Malta in Group F, England have been inserted as the overwhelming favourites to qualify automatically in the football betting odds from bookmakers.
West Ham winger Michail Antonio has earned a first England call-up thanks to his fine start to the new Premier League season, with the former Tooting &Mithcham United man continuing his rise to stardom. With Theo Walcott having also received a recall to the side, competition for places in England’s midfield is likely to be fierce, with supporters hoping to banish the memories of their defeat to minnows Iceland in France.
As for Rooney, the former Everton youngster may well struggle to nail down a place in Allardyce’s starting eleven despite having been named as captain. Indifferent form so far this season for Manchester United has led to calls for Rooney to be dropped at both club and international level, however his assist late on against Hull City demonstrated his undoubted talent.
Allardyce has certainly shown that he is open to change during the early days of his time in charge of the national team, with the former Bolton and West Ham boss admitting to exploring the possibility of calling up French born, Sevilla midfielder, Steven N’Zonzi. Despite his attempts coming up short due to a French Under-21 appearance for the former Blackburn and Stoke man, Allardyce has stated that he is open to such opportunities in the future.
With many questioning the credentials of Allardyce to take on such a responsibility, with the 61-year-old having never taken charge of a top level club team. However, others have welcomed the appointment, with a change of tactic and personality something clearly needed in the dressing room after decades of failure. Rooney will certainly be looking to write himself into the history books before his retirement, although lifting the World Cup in 2018 may well remain a pipe dream.