Wayne Rooney: Englands Best Chance

Looking forward to the World Cup, is Wayne Rooney the player who can drive England to victory in South Africa? This season alone he has 34 goals in all forms of the game; it’s hard to argue against the impeccable red devil.

Finally playing at the pinnacle of the Manchester United team, Rooney has proved his knack for goal scoring and continues to impress everyone from rival managers to reporters who recently, have been doing everything they can to exploit England’s finest footballers.

The ferocious forward burst on to the United scene in 2004 netting a spectacular hat trick on his debut against Fenerbache. Since then he has managed 125 goals in 274 games, an impressive tally considering the positions he has been forced to play in.

Having been frustrated for years at United because of being pushed out onto the left wing. A compliment to his all round football ability but also a key factor that caused his goal scoring tally to dry up.

Critics soon jumped on the media bandwagon and dubbed him as ‘not a natural goal scorer,’ despite scoring 19 goals in 48 games. His frustration boiled over into an unpleasant mixture with his natural aggression leading to his performances worsening. People couldn’t believe ‘Wazza,’ could have an off day, until a string of them convinced them otherwise.

Somewhat fortunately Rooney’s place as a central striker became available when the form of Dimitar Berbatov dropped. Unlike the Bulgarian he showed why Sir Alex Ferguson delved 30 million pounds deep into the bank to sign him.

From then on there’s been no looking back, apart from for the defenders who spend the game being ran rugged by his pace, tenacity and natural skill. He has captained his club and had the honour of leading England out in their friendly against five time world champions Brazil in his first match as captain.

After the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Rooney has easily become United’s most important player, dealing with the ongoing pressure shows his maturity is growing along with his ability.

Rooney himself admits to working hard on keeping his mind concentrated on the football with all the media coverage going on around him. With his wife Coleen recently giving birth he has had to juggle his personal and professional life but appears to have done so successfully.

One continuous criticism of Rooney is his temper. However with his team playing well, the short fuse has rarely been lit whilst keeping the quintessentially British aggression to his play.

Without him in the side, the current champions would have lost 23 of their 66 Premier League goals. With one of the tightest title races in years Sir Alex will be wrapping Rooney in cotton wool. He is currently outshining the leagues best. Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres have been unable to keep up with the pace Rooney keeps on setting.

A crucial and obvious factor to the strikers play is the all round aspect of it. He seems to be every position rolled into one (apart from the goalkeeper).

Rapidly rectifying his weaknesses is another evident trait amongst a sea of others. Heading seemed to be the weakest in his arsenal but now he has scored his last seven goals with his head.

When talking about Wayne Rooney it’s easy to forget he is only 24 years old. Playing in the league since becoming the youngest goal scorer at the age of 16, his career was and still is set for big things. At his age there is still plenty of potential to be filled and a long playing career ahead of him.

His name is a sure shot to be up there with the greats of the game. Following the likes of George Best and Bobby Charlton, he is already being labeled a legend for his club and country.

His rise to world-class quality seems to have left his dismissal at the 2006 World Cup in the past. The nations hopes will pressure his broad shoulders but the unselfish superstar will look to take England all the way in South Africa.