Football: Rooney stars in England win

Striker bags two as team runs riot against San Marino in World Cup qualifier.

LONDON:

Wayne Rooney capped a week to remember as the England skipper’s double inspired his side to a 5-0 win over San Marino in Friday’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

With Roy Hodgson’s side labouring to break down one of Europe’s weakest teams, Rooney came to the rescue as he lashed in a first half penalty and then netted the decisive third after Danny Welbeck’s strike. The 26-year-old’s 30th and 31st England goals moved him into fifth in his country’s all-time scoring charts.  Danny Welbeck also finished with a brace as he added England’s fourth before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sealed the victory with his first international goal.

“It is a great feeling,” said Rooney. “I’m really proud, and thankfully we got the victory. It was difficult out there. We had to move the ball quickly and create that space for ourselves.”

Hodgson said that he was proud of his side’s performance and that he hoped Rooney would maintain his form.

“I thought we were very patient,” he said. “We passed the ball well from the first minute to the last and played the way we wanted to.”

Spain thrash Belarus

Spain warmed up for their Group I showdown with France next Tuesday as Pedro Rodriguez fired a hat-trick in a convincing 4-0 victory over Belarus.

A cagey start to the encounter was soon broken open as Spain struck twice in eight first-half minutes thanks to Jordi Alba and Pedro who eased early nerves and set the defending champions on their way to a rousing win.

“We played a good match and were very complete,” said Spain’s manager Del Bosque. “The players were relaxed from the beginning and played well together, with depth and recovered the ball well.”

Germany punish Ireland

Germany had Irish viewers turning off in droves as they romped to a 6-1 away win, with Marco Reus putting the Group C leaders 2-0 up inside 40 minutes with two crisp strikes.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland were never in the game as they suffered a record-equalling home defeat as a Mesut Ozil penalty, trademark Miroslav Klose finish and two classy Toni Kroos goals completed the rout.

“The coach prepared us well,” said Reus. “We had control of the game all the time and the first-half lead gave us the needed confidence.”

Meanwhile, Italy reinforced their lead at the top of their 2014 World Cup qualifying group with a morale-boosting 3-1 win away to Armenia on Friday. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli coach was buoyed after goals from Andrea Pirlo and Roma pair Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Osvaldo proved too much for a spirited Armenian side.

“We struggled to get things going at times, but overall I’m satisfied,” said Prandelli, whose side face Denmark on Tuesday. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2012.