|
|
England boss Fabio Capello must take world-class Wayne Rooney to Euro 2012 even if his three-match ban is upheld, says World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst
The legendary striker also gives his seal of approval to Danny Welbeck, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora for forward slots at Euro 2012 as the Three Lions prepare to learn their fate
2 Dec 2011 08:09:00
McDonald's
EXCLUSIVE
By Rob Stewart
England football legend Sir Geoff Hurst believes Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney should be taken to Euro 2012 even if his three-match ban is upheld by Uefa disciplinary officials.
As the Euro 2012 draw looms on Friday and with Rooney’s appeal against his punishment due next week at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Sir Geoff is adamant that although Rooney may miss out on the group phase of the tournament after being sent off for violent conduct in Montenegro, he should still be selected by England head coach Fabio Capello.
“I think they should take Wayne Rooney even if he is suspended for the opening phase of the tournament. That is something I would do without question,” Sir Geoff told Goal.com.
“I would definitely select Wayne because he is a world-class player. When he has served his punishment he will have every right to be part of the squad with an opportunity of playing.
“I think it will be great if we are doing well and Wayne is sitting on the bench waiting to come on. It would be a great position for Fabio Capello to be in.
“And the young players know that they will have to play well to keep themselves in the team and we will need them to rise to the challenge to get us into the latter stages.”
Sir Geoff’s hat-trick enabled England to beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final, and he is hoping that Rooney’s peers can be equally as prolific to make it difficult for Capello to bring the forward back into fold in Poland and Ukraine next summer.
“Wayne Rooney is a world-class player but is not playing at the moment due to suspension and that must give a huge opportunity to one of his fellow strikers in the friendlies over the course of this season and the games to make their mark by playing well and scoring goals – it is a massive opportunity,” Sir Geoff added.
“As much as I did in 1966 when the great Jimmy Greaves was injured, you take your chance with both hands. It would be great if the strikers that come in contribute plenty, score goals and the team plays well and wins and make it very difficult for Fabio Capello to bring Wayne Rooney back.
“That would be a fantastic position because it must be stressed that it is not about one player winning the finals of a major tournament – it is about a squad. It is not just about the team that plays on a given day or about an individual player, it is about the 23-man squad.
“So it would be a healthy position for Capello if in the first three games we do well, qualify for the knockout phase and you have still got Wayne Rooney waiting in the wings.”
Sir Geoff believes that Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, Aston Villa’s Darren Bent and Rooney’s United team-mate Danny Welbeck should accompany him in England’s 23-man squad.
“Some of the time we will probably only play with one so three plus Wayne on the bench should be sufficient,” Sir Geoff said.
“The ones I would pick today are Darren Bent who has got a bit of experience now and set up the goal against Spain and is scoring regularly at club level.
“I would pick Zamora in that he adds something different in terms of hold-up play and I would probably go for Danny Welbeck. He is a tremendous prospect but you have got to emphasise that he is a prospect.
“He has pace, he works very hard for the tem, he is good in the air and he scores goals. He is not only a serious candidate for the squad but he is a strong contender for a starting slot.”
Whatever happens, Sir Geoff is keen to stress the importance of the squad as a whole.
“It is not about Wayne Rooney or the 11 players who might start in the final – the important thing about tournaments is that it is the squad that wins and the attitude camaraderie and team spirit for a month will be key ingredients,” he said.
“I know from my time how important that is and conversely we know from the last World Cup in South Africa that there was quite a lot of unrest in the camp and it manifested itself in some very poor performances on the field.
“Having been in the group of players for almost two months with the preparation and the training and the friendlies in Scandinavia and Poland and the World Cup itself, which was almost a month, we understood at the time how important that was, something emphasised with the passage of time.
“Also talking to other players that where successful they always touch on the significance of friendship, team work and togetherness they experienced during that month or two away. It is a key ingredient and the manager has to generate that wherever possible during his time in charge."
Sir Geoff Hurst was speaking at the McDonald’s Coaching Masterclass at Wembley. For more information, visit www.thefa.com/yourgame.
Follow Rob Stewart on
By Rob Stewart
England football legend Sir Geoff Hurst believes Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney should be taken to Euro 2012 even if his three-match ban is upheld by Uefa disciplinary officials.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
As the Euro 2012 draw looms on Friday and with Rooney’s appeal against his punishment due next week at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Sir Geoff is adamant that although Rooney may miss out on the group phase of the tournament after being sent off for violent conduct in Montenegro, he should still be selected by England head coach Fabio Capello.
“I think they should take Wayne Rooney even if he is suspended for the opening phase of the tournament. That is something I would do without question,” Sir Geoff told Goal.com.
“I would definitely select Wayne because he is a world-class player. When he has served his punishment he will have every right to be part of the squad with an opportunity of playing.
“I think it will be great if we are doing well and Wayne is sitting on the bench waiting to come on. It would be a great position for Fabio Capello to be in.
“And the young players know that they will have to play well to keep themselves in the team and we will need them to rise to the challenge to get us into the latter stages.”
Sir Geoff’s hat-trick enabled England to beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final, and he is hoping that Rooney’s peers can be equally as prolific to make it difficult for Capello to bring the forward back into fold in Poland and Ukraine next summer.
“Wayne Rooney is a world-class player but is not playing at the moment due to suspension and that must give a huge opportunity to one of his fellow strikers in the friendlies over the course of this season and the games to make their mark by playing well and scoring goals – it is a massive opportunity,” Sir Geoff added.
“As much as I did in 1966 when the great Jimmy Greaves was injured, you take your chance with both hands. It would be great if the strikers that come in contribute plenty, score goals and the team plays well and wins and make it very difficult for Fabio Capello to bring Wayne Rooney back.
“That would be a fantastic position because it must be stressed that it is not about one player winning the finals of a major tournament – it is about a squad. It is not just about the team that plays on a given day or about an individual player, it is about the 23-man squad.
“So it would be a healthy position for Capello if in the first three games we do well, qualify for the knockout phase and you have still got Wayne Rooney waiting in the wings.”
Seeing red l Sir Geoff thinks Rooney has earned his place on the plane to the Euros
Sir Geoff believes that Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, Aston Villa’s Darren Bent and Rooney’s United team-mate Danny Welbeck should accompany him in England’s 23-man squad.
“Some of the time we will probably only play with one so three plus Wayne on the bench should be sufficient,” Sir Geoff said.
“The ones I would pick today are Darren Bent who has got a bit of experience now and set up the goal against Spain and is scoring regularly at club level.
“I would pick Zamora in that he adds something different in terms of hold-up play and I would probably go for Danny Welbeck. He is a tremendous prospect but you have got to emphasise that he is a prospect.
“He has pace, he works very hard for the tem, he is good in the air and he scores goals. He is not only a serious candidate for the squad but he is a strong contender for a starting slot.”
Whatever happens, Sir Geoff is keen to stress the importance of the squad as a whole.
“It is not about Wayne Rooney or the 11 players who might start in the final – the important thing about tournaments is that it is the squad that wins and the attitude camaraderie and team spirit for a month will be key ingredients,” he said.
 "I would pick Bobby Zamora - he adds something different with his hold-up play"
|
“I know from my time how important that is and conversely we know from the last World Cup in South Africa that there was quite a lot of unrest in the camp and it manifested itself in some very poor performances on the field.
“Having been in the group of players for almost two months with the preparation and the training and the friendlies in Scandinavia and Poland and the World Cup itself, which was almost a month, we understood at the time how important that was, something emphasised with the passage of time.
“Also talking to other players that where successful they always touch on the significance of friendship, team work and togetherness they experienced during that month or two away. It is a key ingredient and the manager has to generate that wherever possible during his time in charge."
Sir Geoff Hurst was speaking at the McDonald’s Coaching Masterclass at Wembley. For more information, visit www.thefa.com/yourgame.
Follow Rob Stewart on
Visit our Euro 2012 microsite for all you need to know ahead of Friday's draw and beyond - team profiles, stadium guides, even which hotels are best to stay in!
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
21:50 BST -
And here are some quotes from today's goalscorer, Danny Welbeck: "It's still the same, me and Ashley [Young] playing together.
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
-
Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms
The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield
-
The definitive timeline of FSG's hunt for new manager
Kenny Dalglish's sacking at the end of the season sparked a massive hunt for the next Anfield boss, and the former Swansea man has been chosen after several turned the job down
