International friendlies: England have fear factor again, says Rooney

Skipper buoyant after recording seventh straight win since World Cup exit


Afp March 30, 2015
Lucky seven: England have been on a dominant run, winning seven from as many games since exiting the World Cup with their lowest-ever points tally, and would look for an eighth straight win over Italy. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON/ AMSTERDAM: England have regained the fear factor following a run of "aggressive" wins since the World Cup last summer, believes skipper Wayne Rooney.

Roy Hodgson's side left Brazil on a low after becoming the first England side since 1958 to exit at the group stages of a World Cup, returning home with their lowest ever points tally.

But since then things have turned around and they will face Italy on Tuesday looking for an eighth straight win, having adopted a more aggressive approach to their games.

"The players are so quick and when we lose the ball we want to be aggressive and win it back quickly," said Rooney. "I am sure you have heard the manager talk about those little 'furies' — that when we lose the ball we have to win it back as quickly as possible.”

The skipper also praised the side’s defence. "There are times when you go and don't get it, but that is where the defence probably doesn't get the credit it deserves because they are pushing in right behind us to close the space off.”

England cannot always employ the same tactics, but Rooney believes they are getting better at judging when to put teams in "uncomfortable positions".

"You don't want to go into games and teams enjoy playing against you," said Rooney. "You want teams to look at England and think, 'we know we have a tough game, it is going to hard against them’."

 

Revenge on Spanish minds for Netherlands

European champions Spain travel to face the Netherlands in a friendly on Tuesday with the 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Dutch at last year's World Cup still fresh in the memory.

The hammer blow delivered in Salvador last June was one from which Spain never recovered as their defence of the title, which they won with a 1-0 final victory over the Netherlands four years previously in South Africa, ended after just two games.

Spain sit only second in Group C of qualifying after limping to a 1-0 win over Ukraine on Friday, while the Netherlands have plenty of work to do just to qualify having won just two of their opening five games in Group A.

 

 

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