EURO 2012 NEWS ROUND-UP:WAYNE ROONEY must prove to Fabio Capello he remains focused on leading the line for England in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland tomorrow amid concerns the striker may not be in the right frame of mind to start the game in Basle.
The Italian and his coaching staff will assess the forward over the next 24 hours after allegations about his private life were printed in two Sunday newspapers. Only then will a decision be made over whether the talismanic forward, so impressive in the 4-0 victory over Bulgaria on Friday, is to feature in what is arguably England’s most daunting test in Group G.
Rooney is expected to travel with the squad today after playing a full part in training at London Colney yesterday morning, with a spokesman for the Football Association insistent it was “business as usual” after suggestions the 24-year-old might be released from the squad. While Rooney reacted with dismay when informed the story was to be published, he has since flung himself into training as normal.
Capello is understood to have spoken privately to Rooney and, while the manager’s instinct will be to select the striker against the Swiss, there are understandable concerns over the forward’s state of mind.
Rooney was asked in March about his position as a role model and had answered candidly. “People look up to you,” he had said. “You are role models whether you like it or not. When I first joined United I used to go out to nightclubs but it is very rare I would go out to a nightclub now. It changes with age. I made that decision myself. I got into a few things I shouldn’t have and I tried to change that. I am settled at home now. It’s good. I am enjoying my life with my family.”
The forward himself has made no public comment on yesterday’s allegations and Triple S Sports and Entertainment Group Ltd, who represent Rooney, referred all queries to their PR adviser, Ian Monk. He, too, declined to comment last night.
England’s players remain supportive of the striker and expect him to feature at the St Jakob Stadium, though James Milner did admit some players might eventually grow disillusioned at the amount of focus placed on off-the-field behaviour these days.
“Every individual is different,” said the Manchester City midfielder. “Some people might turn round and say: ‘I have had enough, I don’t need this. I just want to play football’. But that’s the way the game is now.
“I’m an England player but I’m a fan as well and, whatever the game, I want the best possible team out there. You want your best players on the field. You saw on Friday what a player Wayne is, and hopefully he can go out and get a hat-trick on Tuesday night.
“It would help if your life wasn’t scrutinised with what you’re doing in your personal life but that’s football, you’re in a privileged position to be doing what you’re doing, so there are highs and lows. But Wayne did the full session today and we’re back to football – what we are here to do.”
Capello’s own approach has arguably been placed under greater scrutiny by the stance he took in stripping John Terry of the England captaincy earlier this year in the wake of revelations about the defender’s own private life. The implications of those allegations were different, however, given they had a direct effect on former club-mate Wayne Bridge’s participation with the national side.
England expect their squad of 22 to travel to Basle today with Jermain Defoe, scorer of a hat-trick against Bulgaria, recovered from the kick to his ankle that forced him from the field three minutes from time. No replacement has been called up for the injured Michael Dawson.
Phil Jagielka is convinced he can dislodge either Rio Ferdinand or Terry to hold down a regular England place having impressed in the national team’s first two fixtures of the new campaign.
The Everton centre half, who was overlooked for the World Cup this summer having returned from a long-term knee injury in the new year, started last month’s friendly against Hungary initially alongside Terry, and was technically the senior centre back in the qualifying victory over Bulgaria on Friday. England travel to Switzerland today with only three fit centre-halves, and Jagielka’s position in the starting line-up is assured.
That represents something of a rapid rise for the 28-year-old, who now boasts five caps and is confident he could yet become a regular in the side even when Terry and Ferdinand recover from hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
“It’s always hard to displace players like JT and Rio,” he said. “But I would like to think I can. If Rio and JT come back fit for the next squad and are in form and get picked, they are not bad players to be behind.
“But I’d like to put real pressure on them, and I’m sure the manager wants that as well. He’s always said he wants to pick from players who are in form, so if I can keep playing international football and keep keeping clean sheets then, hopefully, it cranks up the pressure a bit.”
Jagielka had been suffering last week with a bruised foot which required treatment three times a day and granted him only one opportunity to train, on the eve of the Wembley match. Yet his pace was noticeable against Bulgaria and will be needed in Basle, where he will be partnered either by Matthew Upson or Gary Cahill, who replaced Dawson on Friday to make his international debut.
Joe Hart will continue as first choice after another fine display frustrated the Bulgarians.
Hart, like Jagielka, will expect to be tested more rigorously in Basle against a Swiss side who beat Spain in their opening World Cup group game in South Africa.
Their campaign petered out thereafter, but they arguably represent England’s sternest challenge in Group G.
Guardian Service
