Football news - Sutton: Wayne Rooney recall makes mockery of football, I want an England recall too
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ByEurosport
Updated 05/11/2018 at 08:42 GMT
Chris Sutton says he feels like giving the Football Association a call to ask if he can win his second cap in the forthcoming friendly with the USA after Wayne Rooney was given the green light for a recall.
Wayne Rooney of DC United.
Image credit: Eurosport
The 33-year-old - England's record scorer with 53 goals - will win a 120th cap in the comeback appearance against the USA at Wembley Stadium on November 15 - two years after his last international match against Scotland in November 2016.
The DC United forward - who left Everton for the MLS earlier this year - is not expected to start or captain Gareth Southgate's side against the US, but will be brought on as a substitute in a charity match arranged to raise funds for the Rooney Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.
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Chris Sutton played for Chelsea in the 1999-2000 season
Image credit: PA Sport
Blackburn's 1995 Premier League winner turned football pundit Chris Sutton has condemned the plan in his column for the Daily Mail, and says the match with the US is nothing month than an exhibition.
"I'm tempted to ring up the FA and ask if I can play 10 minutes against the United States so I can win my second England cap. This match is now nothing more than an exhibition," said Sutton.
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Wayne Rooney is set to make his 120th and final England appearance next week
Image credit: Getty Images
Bringing Wayne Rooney out of international retirement for one last farewell appearance makes a complete mockery of international football. If Rooney wants to raise money for his foundation then he would be better served booking Wembley, inviting an all-star XI and holding a charity match.
"Surely this is not the way a great competitor wants to bow out. It's actually a bit patronising.
"It is surprising that Gareth Southgate has agreed to this. It flies in the face of his intent to build for England's future.
This match should be a chance for the manager to see what his promising youngsters can do and further develop his vision ahead of the European Championship in 2020.
"This smacks of a gimmick to drum up interest in a friendly against a side who did not qualify for the World Cup and to sell tickets. If anything, this would convince me not to buy one."
Having made his international debut in 2003 as England's youngest ever player, Rooney surpassed Bobby Charlton as his country's leading scorer in 2015.
Across a 13-year international career, Rooney represented England at three World Cups and three European Championships.
Rooney, who began his career at Everton, spent 13 seasons at Manchester United.
But 125-times capped England goalkeeper Peter Shilton - a World Cup semi-finalist at Italia '90 - was equally scathing about Rooney's recall.
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Peter Shilton and Diego Maradona at the 1986 Word Cup dream
Image credit: Eurosport
"I was shocked when I read it and I’m still struggling to understand the decision" said Shilton in the Mirror.
It’s been two years since Wayne last played, England are on a new threshold and have just had a great World Cup but are going backwards with this.
"That’s not to say that Wayne does not deserve a tribute but give him a presentation, don’t just give caps away which is wrong and also denies a young player a chance as well.
I don’t agree with it at all. It should be the greatest honour and reward playing for your country but the reality is that the MLS is nowhere near the same level as the Premier League.
"Wayne Rooney finished with England, Gareth Southgate moved on and I don’t agree with this at all. To actually give him a game in what is a proper England international is completely wrong, in my opinion.”
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