Rooney converted from the spot against Switzerland to pass Bobby Charlton’s 49-goal mark and become England’s top goalscorer of all time. PHOTO: AFP
The England captain lashed in a late penalty in Tuesday’s 2-0 win in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley to become England’s outright all-time leading scorer.
Charlton led a flood of tributes to Rooney after the game and with the Manchester United captain not due to turn 30 until next month, Hodgson believes he can stretch the record and emulate Charlton by leading England to glory.
“It’s a proud moment for him and his family, but I know Wayne and he’s not got in his head how many goals he can score for England,” said Hodgson. “He wants to make England a better team, to make sure, like Sir Bobby Charlton, he ends up winning a tournament or getting very good results in a tournament.”
Rooney is the first to acknowledge that despite the goal-scoring record, his England career does not compare to that of Charlton, a key member of the team that tasted World Cup glory on home soil in 1966.
But there was no room for caveats on a night that belonged to Rooney, who wiped tears from his eyes as the crowd rose to acclaim him in the aftermath of his historic goal.
Rooney’s strike, which came after substitute Kane had broken the deadlock with his second goal in two games, rubber-stamped an eighth successive qualifying win for Hodgson’s side.
Goal-shy Spain frustrate fans and coach alike
Spain boss Vicente del Bosque tends to be the calmest and most loyal of coaches when faced with a crisis, but even his patience has worn thin after the European champions laboured to a 1-0 win over Macedonia on Tuesday.
An uninspiring three points moved Del Bosque’s men ever closer to sealing their place at the European Championships in France next year, where they will aim to win the tournament for a record third consecutive occasion.
Yet, far from champions, Spain barely even look like contenders as the hangover from their disastrous showing as holders at the 2014 World Cup threatens to roll over into another major international tournament.
“We honestly have to recognise that we didn’t play well,” said del Bosque after a comical own goal from Macedonian goalkeeper Tome Pacovski handed his side victory. “We have won by chance and the explanation isn’t easy.”
However, the performance in Skopje wasn’t a one-off. After the positive vibes of La Roja getting back to somewhere near their best in Friday’s 2-0 win over Slovakia, it was another step in the wrong direction as Spain’s struggle to score goals against the lesser lights of international football continued.
In five games in 2015, Spain have managed just six goals, including Pacovski’s gift and another one from the penalty spot.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2015.
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