- Title: Southgate says Rooney captain of improved England team
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: TATENHILL, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) ENGLAND MIDFIELDER JORDAN HENDERSON AND MANAGER GARETH SOUTHGATE ARRIVE FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND MANAGER GARETH SOUTHGATE CONFIRMING WAYNE ROONEY AS CAPTAIN, SAYING: "Yeah, I think he's in a better place than he was for the last get-together in terms of his sharpness, his confidence and I think he's really, you know, an experienced player for a game like this. So yeah, there was no hesitation from my point of view to be playing him" WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTHGATE SAYING OF ROONEY: "He's playing well, you know. He's played well for Manchester United in the last couple of matches. I think he's a player that, when he's in a rhythm of playing, that helps. So he's confident and yeah, I think experience in a game like this is important with a team that has a lot of energy and a lot of potential, but also you need some experienced players around that" WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTHGATE SAYING: "This is a young team, a vibrant team and a team that is only going to get better. And I think the work we're trying to do, I think we'll be better than we were in our last two matches, I'm confident of that, we've had more time to work together" WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTHGATE ASKED ABOUT HIS FUTURE AND IF HE FEELS UNDER PRESSURE, SAYING: "No (LAUGHS) I'm really enjoying being in the role, you know. For me, what happens to me is not important. We've got to win this game. We want to win this game for the country and we want to win this game because we want to be top of the group heading to Russia. That's the task I was given. I said earlier in the week, what happens to me is important to my family, but other than that it's not the reason and the purpose for the game. You know, I want the players to go out and enjoy their football, to play well and I am sure they will."
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 11:29
- Keywords: Gareth Southgate England Scotland world cup qualifier Rooney
- Location: TATENHILL, ENGLAND, UK
- City: TATENHILL, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V2U67
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: = INCLUDES WHITE FLASHES =
= QUALITY AS INCOMING =
Wayne Rooney will captain England in the World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Wembley on Friday (November 11), interim manager Gareth Southgate said on Thursday.
The 31-year-old forward was dropped for the previous game, a Group F qualifier in Slovenia in October that ended 0-0.
"Yeah, I think he's in a better place than he was for the last get-together in terms of his sharpness, his confidence and I think he's really, you know, an experienced player for a game like this. So yeah, there was no hesitation from my point of view to be playing him," Southgate told a news conference at the St George's Park national football centre.
Rooney, England's record scorer with 53 goals, has won 118 caps, but was also dropped by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho this season. However, he has started United's past two games, scoring one goal.
"He's playing well, you know. He's played well for Manchester United in the last couple of matches. I think he's a player that, when he's in a rhythm of playing, that helps. So he's confident and yeah, I think experience in a game like this is important with a team that has a lot of energy and a lot of potential, but also you need some experienced players around that," said Southgate.
Rooney scored twice in England's 3-1 win over Scotland in November 2014 at Celtic Park, when the countries last met.
As well as drawing with Slovenia last month, England beat Malta 2-0, but Southgate said they're a better team now.
"This is a young team, a vibrant team and a team that is only going to get better. And I think the work we're trying to do, I think we'll be better than we were in our last two matches, I'm confident of that, we've had more time to work together."
The Football Association put Southgate in charge for four matches when Sam Allardyce parted ways with England after just one game in charge because he was caught seeking a lucrative sideline role in a newspaper 'sting'.
Asked at the news conference if he felt like he was auditioning for the permanent position and whether that affected him, Southgate laughed and said: "No. I'm really enjoying being in the role, you know. For me, what happens to me is not important. We've got to win this game. We want to win this game for the country and we want to win this game because we want to be top of the group heading to Russia. That's the task I was given. I said earlier in the week, what happens to me is important to my family, but other than that it's not the reason and the purpose for the game. You know, I want the players to go out and enjoy their football, to play well and I am sure they will."
England top qualifying Group F for the 2018 world cup in Russia with seven points from three matches, while Scotland are fourth of six teams with four points.
The English host Spain in a friendly game at Wembley next Tuesday (November 15). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
