Rooney

Tiền đạo của Manchester United vẫn chưa có bàn thắng nào cho ĐT Anh trong một giải đấu chính thức kể từ sau chiến thắng trước Croatia tại Euro 2004 ở Bồ Đào Nha. Rooney là một trong những cầu thủ Anh chơi tồi nhất trên sân trong trận đấu tại Tel Aviv với Israel và đây cũng là một phần nguyên nhân khiến hàng công “Sư tử Anh” tiếp tục “tịt ngòi” trận thứ 4 liên tiếp trong 5 trận gần đây.

Chơi mờ nhạt trong gần như suốt cả trận đấu, “dấu ấn” mà Rooney để lại chỉ là màn khẩu chiến suýt dẫn tới ẩu đả với hậu vệ Tal Ben Haim bên phía đội chủ nhà. Rất may cho Rooney là đội trưởng John Terry đã kịp can ngăn tránh cho anh khỏi đi quá xa và rất dễ phải nhận một thẻ đỏ trực tiếp.

Phong độ mờ nhạt và tính khí thiếu kiềm chế đó của “cựu thần đồng” nước Anh khiến Steve McClaren không hài lòng một chút nào. Đáp lại lời chỉ trích của ông thầy, Wayne Rooney tỏ thái độ tức giận khi ném ngay bộ đồ xuống nền nhà và “vặc” lại rằng không thể đổ trách nhiệm ghi bàn của ĐT lên một mình anh.

Rooney was still seething as he left the pitch following an angry exchange with Israel defender Tal Ben Haim during a match that leaves England struggling to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals.

Some of England's players had planned a night out in the Israeli capital but those plans were scrapped by McClaren after they failed to secure the three points they badly needed. The coach confirmed after the game: 'They'll be in this evening.'

Rooney, who has not scored a competitive goal for his country since they beat Croatia in Portugal nearly three years ago, snapped back at McClaren and threw his kit across the dressing room in disgust. The Manchester United striker told McClaren that he was not the only player in the team responsible for scoring goals.

Rooney was still seething as he left the pitch following an angry exchange with Israel defender Tal Ben Haim during a match that leaves England struggling to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals.

The pair were both booked following the second-half incident and Rooney had to be restrained by skipper John Terry from entering the Israel dressing room to confront the Bolton defender.

Rooney was one of several England players who performed poorly on Saturday evening and the national team’s latest disappointing result has raised the stakes for McClaren.

The coach failed to acknowledge the supporters who travelled to Tel Aviv at the final whistle and headed straight for the tunnel.

Some of England’s players had planned a night out in the Israeli capital but those plans were scrapped by McClaren after they failed to secure the three points they badly needed. The coach confirmed after the game: ‘They’ll be in this evening.’

There are also concerns about McClaren’s relationship with assistant manager Terry Venables. The pair appear to have contrasting football philosophies which are taking them in separate directions.

England remain third in Group E but have slipped further behind Croatia and Russia, who each won on Saturday.

McClaren’s side have scored only once in their last five matches and although they are expected to beat Andorra in Barcelona on Wednesday evening, the team are short of confidence.

Midfielder Frank Lampard admitted: ‘We have to take it as a group problem but we try to score goals from everywhere.

‘I think we’re at that patch where it’s not coming at the moment. There’s only one thing we can do about it and that means we can’t moan or point fingers but just work hard to get out of it.

‘It’s a disappointing record when you look at the players we have, but we have to put it right against Andorra. We’re realistic and we know there’s a lot of work to be done. We have to win a big proportion of our games from now on, if not every game from now on.’

England’s players were jeered by their own supporters as they left the field but there were no complaints.

Steven Gerrard added: ‘It’s understandable that the fans booed us. That happens in football. We aren’t winning games we should be winning. As an experienced player I’ve got to take it on the chin. Of course it hurts, it’s not nice.

‘We owe these fans, as they travel all over the place paying good money and they want to see goals. They want to see us beat the likes of Israel and Macedonia and we’re not doing that at the minute.

‘It doesn’t look easy to qualify at the moment but a few victories can soon make that table look a lot different.

‘It feels like a defeat right now but if we start performing we can turn it round. There was already pressure on us. We were third before this game and we haven’t got the win we wanted, so there’s even more pressure on us. As a footballer you’ve got to deal with that and take the criticism of the supporters.’

The result brought criticism from former England stars. Ex-skipper Alan Shearer said: ‘It was very disappointing and very frustrating and we have problems. We’re not seeing the same players in England shirts as we do when they’re playing for their clubs.

‘The pressure is massive and the players are simply not performing. Confidence is low because we haven’t scored or won for a while and we lacked spark up front.’

Former Liverpool and England winger John Barnes said: ‘Expectations have to be more realistic: we’re not the best team in the world and we’re not the best team in Europe.

‘Teams like Spain or Portugal could have broken down Israel with the way they set up but that’s not the way we play.’