Captain Wayne Rooney urges England's stars to stick together and focus on winning the upcoming World Cup qualifiers following Sam Allardyce's shock departure
Wayne Rooney's role with England has been under heavy scrutiny since Euro 2016. Pic/Getty Images
Wayne Rooney's role with England has been under heavy scrutiny since Euro 2016. Pic/Getty Images
London: Wayne Rooney admits it was a "shame" to see Sam Allardyce sacked as England boss but urged the squad to stick together after a tumultuous week.
Allardyce's ignominious exit last week, after just 67 days and one game in charge, came after a Daily Telegraph investigation into football corruption. Gareth Southgate has been installed as interim manager for the next four matches, and one of his first announcements was to retain Rooney as captain.
The Manchester United forward is likely to lead England out against Malta at Wembley on Saturday in the World Cup qualifiers. And the 30-year-old is eager to focus on football after a "tough couple of weeks" off the field for the national side.
"We need to build on the three points we won in the last game (against Slovakia), and the other side of it isn't our issue, it's nothing for us to be concerned about.
'Sam exit a shame'
"It's a shame, everyone could see how excited Sam was for the job and he came in and showed that enthusiasm to the players. It's a shame it's happened and I'm sure he deeply regrets it.
"As a group of players we need to stick together and concentrate on the football. For the FA I'm sure it has been a tough couple of weeks but for the players we've been with our clubs and we have to focuss on the games."
The start of Rooney's England career intersected briefly with the latter days of Southgate's just over a decade ago. Former Everton youngster Rooney backed the appointment of the England Under-21 boss, and also suggested he was well-placed to succeed.
'Opportunity for Gareth'
Rooney added: "When I first got into the squad he was in the squad then. He's done a very job with the U-21s, and he's got an opportunity to show what he can do at senior level.
He'll bring his own way of working, it's going to be good to see what that is in the next week. We have to buy into his ways and take his ideas on board."
Rooney's role with the national side has been under heavy scrutiny since the Euro 2016 debacle. Southgate, though, announced there would be no change to the England captaincy.
"There was a lot of talk over whether I'd be captain or not, so it was good Gareth put that to bed quite early and there wasn't the speculation," said Rooney.
"We've got two games this week that we have to win. Whether that was with Gareth or Sam we have to try and get six points. If we do that Gareth will be happy and we'll be happy."
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