Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has suggested that England captain Wayne Rooney will not be available for the Three Lions’ high-profile friendlies in March, with the striker currently recovering from a serious knee injury.
National football teams across Europe will be involved in several international friendlies in the coming months as they gear up to challenge for the EURO 2016 in France this summer. England will be playing FIFA World Cup 2014 winners Germany in Berlin on March 26, and will play Netherlands three days later.
However, Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson will be missing captain Wayne Rooney, as Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal indicated that the striker is unlikely to be fit to play in the two friendlies.
“He has to be ready for us first, not for the English team,” Van Gaal said, according to fourfourtwo.com.
“Wayne has a brace now and he has to wear it for two-and-a-half weeks. Then we have to look again, so I cannot say anything about that now. Now he is resting because of the brace.”
Still England’s golden boy
30-year-old Wayne Rooney might not be in the same class as he was a decade or so ago, but he is still England’s best hope for the Euros. The emergence of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy may have cast a few doubts on Rooney’s claim to the striker position, but a run of 7 goals in 9 games in 2016 has brought him right back into contention.
Rooney has broken numerous records in his 13-year career as an England international. He is the country’s highest goalscorer of all time, having beaten Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 goals with a penalty he scored against Switzerland in the EURO 2016 qualifying campaign.
However, Rooney’s place in the starting XI is by no means assured. Wazza will have to impress Roy Hodgson and start scoring for club and country again if he wants to feature in England’s first EURO 2016 match on 11th June against Russia.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has suggested that England captain Wayne Rooney will not be available for the Three Lions’ high-profile friendlies in March, with the striker currently recovering from a serious knee injury.
National football teams across Europe will be involved in several international friendlies in the coming months as they gear up to challenge for the EURO 2016 in France this summer. England will be playing FIFA World Cup 2014 winners Germany in Berlin on March 26, and will play Netherlands three days later.
However, Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson will be missing captain Wayne Rooney, as Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal indicated that the striker is unlikely to be fit to play in the two friendlies.
“He has to be ready for us first, not for the English team,” Van Gaal said, according to fourfourtwo.com.
“Wayne has a brace now and he has to wear it for two-and-a-half weeks. Then we have to look again, so I cannot say anything about that now. Now he is resting because of the brace.”
Still England’s golden boy
30-year-old Wayne Rooney might not be in the same class as he was a decade or so ago, but he is still England’s best hope for the Euros. The emergence of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy may have cast a few doubts on Rooney’s claim to the striker position, but a run of 7 goals in 9 games in 2016 has brought him right back into contention.
Rooney has broken numerous records in his 13-year career as an England international. He is the country’s highest goalscorer of all time, having beaten Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 goals with a penalty he scored against Switzerland in the EURO 2016 qualifying campaign.
However, Rooney’s place in the starting XI is by no means assured. Wazza will have to impress Roy Hodgson and start scoring for club and country again if he wants to feature in England’s first EURO 2016 match on 11th June against Russia.