LOL genius.

I could show more passion than all the players, should I be in the team as well? Guy round the corner has a flag up all year, he should be our star striker as well! (although his wheelchair will bring issues but we can sort that)

I wonder if the rugby is best brigade actually type their comments with their toes, because it is far more difficult to do anything with your feet than your hands, including controlling a ball

But the ridiculous thing is he could be the worst player on the pitch and he'd still be the first name on Roy's team sheet for the next game. That's what annoys people about the Rooney bandwagon. He is guaranteed a place regardless of performance.

no, he cheated on his wife, and knew it waa about to hit the tabloids, so he was walking around like a bear with a sore head during 2010

He can keep a lid on his temper much better than in his younger days, so no - I don't think he will get sent off.

Went through a whole league season without getting booked a couple of years ago, I believe

What a charming man that Mr Rooney is.

It says a lot about Rooney's ability, that consecutive coaches include him in the squad repeatedly, even when unfit.

It's hardly a surprise. I'd take an unfit Rooney over a fit Peter Crouch/Jermain Defoe e.t.c.

Rooney is so frustrating.

He can be a decent player for his club, but a good tournament performance is long overdue. He clearly has the ability, but he seems to choke when it comes to international games. I don't think he handles the pressure well at all.

If we had genuine options up front, I would use him as a sub in the first game and gradually ease him into the tournament in the hope that it might take a bit of pressure off. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury.

I would like to see him start tonight's game as the main striker with Barkley in behind him. I don't think Sturridge is up to the job at all, and as unreliable as Rooney can be for England, he's the best striker we have. I'm surprised Hodgson hasn't tried that in the friendlies to be honest.

Apart from the one good cross that led to the goal Rooney was utterly pathetic tonight. He still won't be dropped though.

Went to Portugal in 2004, never came back.

Absolute shite again tonight, other than the cross that lead to a goal he was hopeless. Hasn't had a decent game in an England shirt since 2004, he doesn't even have and injury based excuse to hide behind this time.

Love it!

England were playing with 10 men

Two world cups and one game in this one and still no goals for him....the guy is a Sky TV/ Premier League hyped con artist of a player.

In any other decade where England had far better quality of player Rooney wouldn't even make the squad never mind being (wrongly) thought of as a world class player....it makes my blood boil that he is constantly seen as untouchable in regards to being selected for every England game...undropable even....he is our weak link IMO.

I know Rooney created England's goal, with that cross

Later on, when England were 2-1 down. Rooney took a corner, and just belted it behind the goal. WTF !!

Even San Marino don't take corners that bad

Then, there was his missed effort in front of goal

If the minus points, outweigh the plus points, it will soon be time for Rooney to go

These next two matches will be crucial for Rooney, on the international stage

There's obviously a reason you usually post in the BB forums isn't there?

Rooney is patently underrated by those whose sole football viewing is a few England games.

The pressure on him is immense right now and if he doesn't score in this WC he will be regarded as a failure by many.

I wonder how many times it needs proving that experience means nothing before the manager/coaches/pundits/commentators finally get it.

I presume he must have some of sort of skin condition - always seem to be wearing long sleeved shirts.

Anyway that missed chance didn't really help him having created the goal with a nice cross.

Inconsistent.

I think the problem is that he doesn't set the world alight in those few England games...the ones at international tournaments. The form that is most relevant now.

I don't want any England player to be sent off. And I hope they perform to their very best every time they play.

Having said that, I recall the 1986 WC, when, after losing our first game, our then supposed world class players, who were undroppable (is that a word?) - Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins - left the second game early due to injury and a red card respectively. Needing a win in the 3rd game to qualify, Bobby Robson was forced into re-shaping his team, most notably bringing Peter Beardsley into the side. Two convincing 3-0 wins followed, before the hand of cheat and a bit of magic intervened.

Rooney is a confidence player but he hasn't got any at the moment. It's unwise to risk the English Nation's hopes purely to keep him happy by picking him. He has the problem. and he has to sort it and not be pandered to... .. How many more chances does he want..
Roy - Really show us what you are made of...drop the loser

As " Life of Brian" ... What has he ever given us. ? In this case. NOTHING in every world cup.

I wouldn't say yesterday's game constitutes bad form. People forget that Rooney is some kind of machine, he pops up ****ing everywhere. He's probably the hardest working player of his position, and what more can he do than help create a goal?
Sure, he should have taken that chance, but that isn't necessarily poor form.

I have a suspicion that a lot of Rooney's detractors have had no involvement in football outside of watching the Euros or the World Cup. I played Saturday/Sunday league and in the school system, and I watch an awful lot of football, I wouldn't say that necessarily makes me right, but I feel like I have a better feel for the game if that makes sense?

It's easy to lambast Rooney, he's on high wages at his premier league club, he's fairly unlikeable in terms of media image, he has a reputation as someone who's head goes , and his past form in international tournaments has been poor.

Thing is, consistently international and national coaches pick him to play, even when unfit. Now they're either all collectively stupid , or they actually see what he brings to a side.

He kind of reminds me of Suarez. The boy just wants to play football, and he's damn good at it too.

I'm a Liverpool fan so have no alliegence to him whatsoever. I don't particularly support England either.

The main gist of my point is that he consistently performs poorly in international tournaments, and at a level below his historic club form and what national and international coaches know he has been capable of.

Even if he is popping up everywhere, he did a pretty poor job of providing cover for Baines yesterday; an integral part of his role.

I'm not sure of the comparisons with Suarez, but seeing Manchester United over the years I think he is some way off his best form of a few years back.

I was one of the small number of people in the country to watch the England games closely - in full - TWICE.

He was shockingly bad - but pundits and many fans made excuses for him.

And when Rooney was sent off they played better.