England interim manager Gareth Southgate has admitted that captain Wayne Rooney could be dropped from the first team in the remaining World Cup qualifiers. The England captain was recently booed by fans during his country’s 2-0 win over Malta.
The out-of-form star played as an attacking midfielder but his performance was far from impressive. Goals from Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli gave the Three Lions an important win but the issue of Wayne Rooney’s performance could not be ignored. Here are some of the reasons on Twitter:
Two minutes in, Wayne Rooney has misplaced a pass and been caught in possession. Against Malta.
— Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven) October 8, 2016
I know he is a great player but, on current form, he can't even do it against Malta! Poor Wayne Rooney. #WCQ #EngMal
— Maztur L. Ungerer (@maztur10) October 8, 2016
Rooney was poor. Strikers wasteful, crossing awful, play was far too predicable, no pace, midfielders ineffectivehttps://t.co/w7JJG0MZrg
— Paul Beard (@tangowhisky26) October 9, 2016
Positive result or not that was poor from @England. @WayneRooney should do us all a favour and retire from International football
— david parry (@daveparry1976) October 8, 2016
Strolling about the park, disinterested, playing poor and wild passes. Is this the ‘evolution’ that Wayne Rooney has been talking about?
— Nick Parr (@NickParr) October 8, 2016
The 30-year-old has been struggling to regain his former lethal form that made him one of the most dreaded strikers in the world of football. He has since struggled to get first-team football at his club, Man Utd, in their last three games in all competitions.
And now, Southgate believes that if the former Everton player fails to get regular play-time at his club, he could be dropped from the national team. The Guardian quotes Southgate as saying:
''I've got to make decisions which are right for the team and, whenever you select a team for England, you're going to leave out some players.
"You look at the bench [against Malta] and there are guys who are playing every week in the Premier League, so you have to be prepared to do that (make tough decisions). That's part and parcel of the job.
"I think [Rooney] commands that respect. When he makes his observations and he speaks up, it's clear that he talks with authority but also insight.
"His knowledge is of a very high level, not just of the game but the dynamics of the group and the things they can learn and improve upon. It's impossible to feel that really unless you are inside it."
He added:
"The longer a situation goes where you are not playing with your club, it becomes more difficult.''
England face Slovenia in their next World Cup qualifier on October 11, 2016. It is however unlikely that Wazzaa could be dropped in this fixture.
WATCH: Southgate defends Rooney from critics
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