England players bristle as Wayne’s world again dominates agenda

When England left the pitch in Manaus on Saturday night, Wayne Rooney could have been forgiven for asking Mario Balotelli, whose goal had just sunk England, whether he could borrow the Italian’s vest that famously stated: "Why always me?"

Because here we go again. Another big tournament and only one man from the England ranks is dominating discussions. Not Raheem Sterling, who sparkled in Manaus, nor Daniel Sturridge, whose Mum told him to “Mash it up, son.”

No, it is all about Rooney. Again. His history of being England’s main talking point goes back 10 years to 2004 when he was, like Sterling, the exciting new kid in town until a broken metatarsal put paid to his, and England’s, Euro campaign.

Two years later there was more metatarsal melodrama, this time before the World Cup started. He made it to Germany, but got himself sent off as England crashed out to Portugal.

In South Africa four years ago, it was his poor form and fitness, plus the fact he decided to have a pop at England’s travelling support as the left the pitch after a drab draw against Algeria.

And of course he missed England’s first two games of the 2012 European Championship after being sent off in the qualifiers.

Now it is again about his form and fitness and also where he should play — or whether he should be dropped. After being put wide on the left against Italy so that Raheem Sterling could play as a number 10 behind Sturridge, Rooney received criticism for his below-par performance, which reached a low when he shanked a corner kick high behind the goal.

Some want him dropped, others would prefer to see him back in his best position, behind Sturridge, with Sterling shifted back on to the wing.

It is understandable the focus has been on Rooney, but Frank Lampard believes it is becoming an obsession.

“Unfortunately we do seem have a fixation with one player during every World Cup I’ve been involved in. It’s a bit frustrating when you’re in a team group and that happens, because we’re trying to play together to get results.

“The fixation with one player can become an agenda, and we do need to drop the agenda and look at the team. The manager will pick the best players and whoever plays, we want to win.”

Lampard went on to defend his friend and team-mate, on the one hand making it clear that no player can fail to be affected by such intense scrutiny, while on the other hand pointing out that Rooney has as much mental strength as any one he knows.

“If you’re a human being, no matter how tough you are, if every time you read a paper or put on the TV and it is the debate is about your position, it has to affect you. That is the case for any top player, whether you are Messi or Neymar.

“Wayne is an exceptional player, he was top scorer in qualifying and he will go on to break the England goalscoring record, yet we are putting a lot of negative stuff on him.”

But Lampard believes Rooney can handle the pressure. “Of all the players I have met in an England shirt, from the age of 17, he is one of the toughest, mentally and on the pitch. He takes that out there with him and he is still like that.”

Sterling admitted he would be happy to go back on the right wing if it meant accommodating Rooney in a more central role.

“I’d be happy to play anywhere, whatever the manager wants,” said the teenager, who admitted his memories of major tournaments do not go back farther than four years ago, when he was a schoolboy.

If Sterling is given the number 10 role again, and Rooney is dropped or left out on the wing, the Liverpool youngster may discover what it means, and why it is always about one man.