Four years ago this week, England travelled to Poland for a World Cup qualifier and drew 1-1. The average age of the XI that started that night was over 28; six of the players who started were at least 30 and only one (Tom Cleverley) was 23 or under.
This week, England are travelling to Slovenia for a World Cup qualifier. Assuming no changes are made other than Eric Dier replacing Wayne Rooney, the average age of the side will be just over 25; only one player (Gary Cahill) will be 30 and four will be 23 or under.
Laugh all you like about England’s DNA or the FA’s pledge to be in a position to compete for the World Cup in 2022, but to take three years off the average age of the England team in four years and simultaneously improve the style of the football is a a feat to be celebrated. There are reasons to be cheerful, optimistic and just a little bit excited, and that seems a whole lot easier when looking at an England line-up without its lumbering captain.
‘WILL it ever become fun again?’ asked Dominic King in the Daily Mail on Monday, and his miserabilism about the miserabilism inadvertently raised a pertinent question. The answer is that England already feels more fun just a few hours after the news broke that Rooney was going to be on the bench for an England qualifier. Some may scoff at this being big, breaking news, but this is the first time in 13 years that a fit Rooney has started a qualifying game as a substitute. This is massive. It is a brave and yet utterly logical move from Gareth Southgate and the timing feels absolutely right.
For too long, Rooney has been the ugly pylon spoiling the view of a brighter England future. Excited about Dele Alli, the 20-year-old who has created more chances from open play than any other Englishman since the start of last season? Yes, but Rooney. Intrigued by an England side featuring the pace and dynamism of Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Alli? Yes, but Rooney. Interested to see if Jordan Henderson’s new-found deep-lying role can dovetail __with Eric Dier? Yes, but Rooney. Won’t it be nice to lose the ‘yes, but’?
“People have to stop saying Wayne is not as good as he was or not good enough unless they can give us somebody better to replace him,” says John Barnes. Well, it depends where Rooney believes he should play this week, but Dier, Alli and Daniel Sturridge are better alternatives right now in deep midfield, in the No. 10 role or up front. Ex-footballers and pundits really need to stop seeing Rooney __with his 100-plus caps of experience and instead see him as a footballer in 2016. And as a footballer in 2016, he is simply not good enough. No other player in his trough of form would be anywhere close to this England side.
There’s a reason why Rooney’s critics point to March 26, 2016 as a significant day; it’s the day an England side with an average age of just 24 beat Germany 3-2. Four dynamic Tottenham footballers and three Klopp-enthused Liverpool players led the way in an England side full of confidence, pressing, vim and vigour. For one night, we could feel optimistic. We could feel that way again now the eyesore is being removed.
Sarah Winterburn