‘Remember the name, Wayne Rooney’. Any self respecting football fan will recall the words of Clive Tyldesley on the day a star was born. Against an Arsenal side undefeated in thirty fixtures, Wayne Rooney plucked the ball out of the air with consummate ease and delivered a bending shot past David Seaman to win the game for Everton in injury time. The boy from Merseyside was 5 days shy of his 17th birthday; he was on 80 quid a week. Everything changed. Forget putting yourself on the map, he became the map. And with it came the inevitable pressures and expectations of being an exciting English prospect. He’s the one; better than Owen, the best since Gazza. He could be as good as Maradona… he’s the white Pele. England are going to win the World Cup. Just a few of the assumptions Wayne Rooney created as he burst onto the scene with that goal. It’s hard to believe the mercurial talent is still only 24 but, as he enjoys the richest vein of goal scoring form in his career, is he announcing himself as one of the world’s greatest?
Having guided his club to another Wembley final with a last gasp header to defeat rivals Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson last night described Rooney as “truly world class”. A tremendous accolade to a player that appears to be revelling in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, with Rooney’s goals this season proving he thrives on the extra responsibility. Following his meteoric rise at Goodison Park, Rooney found himself on Ferguson’s shopping list at just 18 years old, albeit due to what now seems like a comical bid from Newcastle that forced United’s hand. Rooney had just returned from Euro 2004 whereby personal (if not national) success had persuaded Sir Alex he was worth the £30 million asking price. 4 goals in as many games let the whole football world know who Wayne Rooney was, before injury cruelly ruined his, and undoubtedly, England’s campaign. The man was raw, fearless. His United career began in similar vein; a champions league hat-trick on debut as he finished top scorer, although he had to settle for no silverware. However, in recent seasons, although his form has never dipped enough to warrant any genuine criticism, he has been a victim of expectation. We all wanted to see England have a world beater; he wasn’t quite there yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, was. While Wayne Rooney suffered the pain of a broken metatarsal for the second time, and a subsequent race against time to be fit for the World Cup, Ronaldo was about to propel himself to the summit of world football. Ronaldo began to stamp his authority on the game at the highest level during Germany 2006; Rooney ended up having an early bath, as England endured an early exit. “Please don’t kill Wayne Rooney, he is the golden boy of English football” were Sven’s parting words as England boss, and here started a transitional few years for the boy wonder Rooney. Now playing in the best Manchester United side in a decade, Rooney was about to achieve great domestic success. He has won 3 league titles, a Champions League and a League Cup in the last 3 years, averaging 15 league goals a season. However despite such success, niggling doubts remained as to whether he could achieve the potential he had shown in his teens. He was beating less men, his long range goals were no longer an every week occurrence. Throughout this period, Ronaldo was the most feared player on the planet; 65 goals in 2 seasons from a winger speaks for itself. Rooney had less responsibility than he had been accustomed to and took on a selfless task for the good of the team, as Ronaldo assumed a free role in any team selected. Rooney displayed a maturity far beyond his tender years throughout frustrating spells, not least when he was played out of position and substituted in both Champions League finals in the previous 2 years.
Now in a World Cup year and with Ronaldo at Madrid, Rooney has reaffirmed everyone’s belief in his abilities. Ronaldo left Old Trafford and the general consensus was that Rooney would take on the added responsibility. He hasn’t disappointed, with 21 goals already this season the only reason Manchester United’s evident problems haven’t been more prevalent. His all-round game is currently as good as it ever has been, and dare I say as good as any other striker in the world. He won’t stop Chelsea winning the league, but lets all pray England have their very own Roonaldo this summer!
Showing posts with label Pele. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pele. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Saturday, 9 January 2010
When snow ruins your sporting schedule - Look to Africa
The biennial African Cup of Nations kicks off tomorrow in Angola, and has already grabbed the front and back pages with the shocking armed ambush of the Togolese team coach. The Sparrow Hawks may be likely to pull out, but rightly or wrongly the tournament goes ahead and we are sure to enjoy some scintillating football over the next three weeks. Today, I am going to give you a brief analysis of the runners and riders, the favourites and some thoughts on the potential dark horses. I’ll also be having a brief look at some of the more tempting bets to be had. This isn’t exactly a competition that grabs the nations imagination, but any dedicated football fan will tell you that this tournament can be a great place to see some exciting football, spot stars of the future and enjoy those currently strutting their stuff in Europe’s top divisions. In a World Cup year, this becomes all the more relevant, and all the more fascinating.
Ivory Coast are clear favourites, and looking at their squad it is easy to see why. Drogba, Kalou, Eboue, the Toure brothers and Dindane are some of the more recognisable names, and this impressive list must be daunting enough for the Malawis and Mozambiques of the competition. When you add to that reserve strikers like Abdul-Kader Keita of Galatasary, young Gervinho of Lille (who at just 22 boasts an impressive record of 11 goals in 18 appearances in Ligue 1) or the experienced West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite, suddenly The Elephants appear to be a side capable dominating this competition. Their cause is only furthered by a potentially reduced group stage work load if Togo pull out of the competition as is widely expected.
Samuel Eto’o, captain of Cameroon, takes his side into a tournament they have won twice in the last five attempts (consecutive victories in 2000 and 2002 and an appearance in the 2008 final). During a mixed qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup, the appointment of prolific French manager Paul Le Guen seems to have revitalised the Indomitable Lions. Eto’o is obviously the stand out player, but looking further into the squad names like Nicolas N’Koulou and Sebastien Bassong will be making sure that the team are more than a side built around one of the world’s most dangerous strikers. The Lions can rely on a rock steady foundation as well as attacking flair - priced as well as 11/2 in some bookies - Cameroon are surely worth an each-way punt.
As far as the dark horses in central Africa are concerned, a couple stick out. Backing Angola, especially to reach the final at 10/1 is tempting. In the 20 competitions ince 1970, the hosts have won the tournament 8 times, lost in the final twice, reached the semi-finals 6 times and only failed to progress to at least that stage on 4 occasions. Sides as small as Burkina Faso have made the penultimate round (1998) so don’t be surprised if Angola turn it on in front of their home fans. The other dark horses to have a look at also sit in group A - Mali. Priced at a generous 22/1, with stars such as captain Mahamadou Diarra of Real Madrid and La Liga goal machine Frederic Kanoute (a good bet at 14/1 for top goalscorer), and, like Angola, a relatively kind draw regarding both the group stage and the potential route to the final, The Eagles could definitely cause an upset.
I hope this has been an interesting, if not comprehensive, guide to some of the action we are preparing for until the 31st January. With almost all the games in Britain called off this week (I personally have been robbed of days out to both Arsenal Bolton and Liverpool Spurs), and bar some exciting NFL playoff action tonight, there is very little sport to distract yourself with. I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in the world of African football - you will not be disappointed. Perhaps world-famous Nike salesman and hero to sufferers of erectile dysfunction everywhere Pele was off the mark when he predicted an African World Cup winner before 2000, but some small consolation to the prolific endorser must be that the standard of football is now better than ever.
Ivory Coast are clear favourites, and looking at their squad it is easy to see why. Drogba, Kalou, Eboue, the Toure brothers and Dindane are some of the more recognisable names, and this impressive list must be daunting enough for the Malawis and Mozambiques of the competition. When you add to that reserve strikers like Abdul-Kader Keita of Galatasary, young Gervinho of Lille (who at just 22 boasts an impressive record of 11 goals in 18 appearances in Ligue 1) or the experienced West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite, suddenly The Elephants appear to be a side capable dominating this competition. Their cause is only furthered by a potentially reduced group stage work load if Togo pull out of the competition as is widely expected.
Samuel Eto’o, captain of Cameroon, takes his side into a tournament they have won twice in the last five attempts (consecutive victories in 2000 and 2002 and an appearance in the 2008 final). During a mixed qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup, the appointment of prolific French manager Paul Le Guen seems to have revitalised the Indomitable Lions. Eto’o is obviously the stand out player, but looking further into the squad names like Nicolas N’Koulou and Sebastien Bassong will be making sure that the team are more than a side built around one of the world’s most dangerous strikers. The Lions can rely on a rock steady foundation as well as attacking flair - priced as well as 11/2 in some bookies - Cameroon are surely worth an each-way punt.
As far as the dark horses in central Africa are concerned, a couple stick out. Backing Angola, especially to reach the final at 10/1 is tempting. In the 20 competitions ince 1970, the hosts have won the tournament 8 times, lost in the final twice, reached the semi-finals 6 times and only failed to progress to at least that stage on 4 occasions. Sides as small as Burkina Faso have made the penultimate round (1998) so don’t be surprised if Angola turn it on in front of their home fans. The other dark horses to have a look at also sit in group A - Mali. Priced at a generous 22/1, with stars such as captain Mahamadou Diarra of Real Madrid and La Liga goal machine Frederic Kanoute (a good bet at 14/1 for top goalscorer), and, like Angola, a relatively kind draw regarding both the group stage and the potential route to the final, The Eagles could definitely cause an upset.
I hope this has been an interesting, if not comprehensive, guide to some of the action we are preparing for until the 31st January. With almost all the games in Britain called off this week (I personally have been robbed of days out to both Arsenal Bolton and Liverpool Spurs), and bar some exciting NFL playoff action tonight, there is very little sport to distract yourself with. I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in the world of African football - you will not be disappointed. Perhaps world-famous Nike salesman and hero to sufferers of erectile dysfunction everywhere Pele was off the mark when he predicted an African World Cup winner before 2000, but some small consolation to the prolific endorser must be that the standard of football is now better than ever.
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