England took on Slovenia at Wembley for their Euro 2016 qualifying match on Saturday. With it brought a few major talking points, not least of which being Wayne Rooney’s 100th cap for the national side. In the days leading up to the game there have been countless articles on the England captain. Some say that he hasn’t lived up to expectation in the England jersey, while others say that he should be praised for his constantly tireless performances every time he takes to the pitch. I agree wholeheartedly with the latter. Rooney has been nothing if not consistent during his international career, which can most certainly extend past France 2016.
In a striking partnership that included former Man United teammate Danny Welbeck, Rooney led the line with a fine display, registering four shots, with one of them finding the back of the net, albeit via a penalty, to take the game to 1-1 after Jordan Henderson’s unlucky own-goal. Welbeck added the other two goals that England needed to win the game 3-1, in a second half performance that got the Wembley supporters up and excited for this England side that looked like a breath of fresh air.
What made this group of players so different to that of the squad that failed so miserably in Brazil earlier this year?
It might be easy to get ahead of ourselves; England were playing Slovenia, a side that forced Joe Hart into only one save on the night, and an aforementioned stroke of luck that took them a goal up. But what made the difference for England this time around, in my opinion, came threefold: the additions of Nathaniel Clyne, and Jordan Henderson; the return of Jack Wilshere; and most importantly, the consistency of the strike partnership in Rooney and Welbeck.
Nathaniel Clyne has been a revelation at Southampton. Following their mass summer exodus of star players to Liverpool, Southampton was considered to be losing the plot a bit, and perhaps they would suffer this season because of it. How wrong were the critics – myself included – in thinking that Southampton would fall so tremendously this campaign. Due to some key signings, and some players who were already on the books picking up the work left behind, and avoided the sale, like Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton now sits second in the league – well above Liverpool. This has obviously impressed Roy Hodgson, and for that, he’s elected to give Clyne his international debut.
He didn’t disappoint, either. So much did he impress that I feel as if England have found their permanent right back. Not to take away from the work that Glen Johnson has produced for club and country; he’s a brilliant right back (just look at some of the ways in which he kept Ramires, Oscar, and company quiet in the game against Chelsea), but now the wrong side of thirty, it is perfectly reasonable to assume that Hodgson needs to start looking for a way to phase him out and find someone to fill the void for the long term, perhaps into France 2016.
Jordan Henderson is another player that I was impressed with. Forget the own goal, which happens to the best; Henderson provided the rock-like presence that England need in the midfield. Too often Henderson tries to get forward and act in an attacking midfield role – perhaps this is why he hasn’t hit the form that he had last season for Liverpool – but on Saturday he showed where his talents truly lie: as England’s engine; driving the play forward and providing himself as the middle man to transition from defence to attack.
The man who has that licence to get further forward and make those Frank Lampard-like runs into the box when he can is Jack Wilshere. His return to the England line up likely churns the stomachs of most Arsenal fans. Will he get injured this time around, and how long until we can see him in a Gunners shirt again? These are the types of questions usually asked by Arsenal fans when Wilshere takes to the field for England, and rightly so. To say that he’s injury prone would be a bit of an understatement, but to say that he would be a miss to both England and Arsenal would be understating even more.
Wilshere was once touted as the future of England’s midfield. A true statement, but it’s no longer valid. He’s the present and future of the national side, and the man who can do it all in midfield for the Three Lions. He’s got the defensive qualities to match Henderson’s to form a brilliant partnership reminiscent of when Lampard and Gerrard controlled the midfield together. So too does he have the attacking work rate comparable to Wayne Rooney. Wilshere is the true well-rounded midfielder that England so desperately needs to charge them into France 2016, and give them a decent shot at a good run in the tournament. If he can continue a fine display in midfield with Henderson as he showed against Slovenia, and kept well away from the physio’s table, England have in that partnership their driving force for an excellent qualifying campaign.
Saturday’s match was one in which there were many things to celebrate. Congratulations are definitely in order for Wayne Rooney for making it to 100 caps and doing so by adding to his goal tally in the process. Danny Welbeck seems to enjoy finding the back of the net with ease for England, and the partnership between the two looks only to be getting stronger with each time they play together. For once, I don’t think many people will be quick to criticize Roy Hodgson for either his team selection or his tactical approach. England looked like a team that had ideas and fresh creativity in them and, hopefully, the form that the Three Lions showed will continue well on into 2016.
