Wayne Rooney of England in action during the International Friendly match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium
Alan Shearer has challenged Wayne Rooney to set the World Cup alight in the summer, feeling that the only way he will be regarded as one of England’s finest players will be to have a good international tournament.
Rooney has so often gone into major tournaments with England in a state of poor fitness following injury and has flattered to deceive on the big stage, while he missed the first two games of England’s Euro 2012 campaign with suspension following his sending off against Montenegro.
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Rooney has high hopes for England at the World Cup this summer, but Shearer believes it is time for the Manchester United forward to step up to the plate and cement his status as a hero for his country, as opposed to the villain he has so frequently transpired to be.
Shearer told reporters, “It’s a gap in his career which he would like to fill.
“But he probably hasn’t gone to a World Cup in the best of fitness and you can’t argue with his record at international level overall.
“But he needs to go out and have a big tournament. If he does that, he will be key to us having a successful World Cup. When Rooney plays well, England play well.
“I’m a Rooney fan. He ticks all the right boxes as a player, but for him to be put in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he needs to have a great tournament in Brazil.”
