England’s most capped player of all time, Peter Shilton, doesn’t think Wayne Rooney should be given a final Three Lions cap.
Rooney retired from international football in 2017 but is set to be included in the England squad that will face the USA at Wembley on Wednesday 15 November.
The match is being dubbed as ‘The Wayne Rooney Foundation international’ and will raise money for the 33-year-old’s charity foundation, with the FA also saying the game was an opportunity to “honour” the DC United man’s “record-breaking international career”.
However, Shilton, who retired from international football just after the 1990 World Cup semi-final, having amassed 125 caps, doesn’t share the FA’s sentiments.
He told the BBC: “I think there are better ways to do it. We could have a presentation on the pitch.
“I think if he was picked on merit, fair enough. But I don’t think you can give caps out like gifts.
“You have got to be careful it doesn’t set a precedent. It’s great Wayne’s foundation are going to get money from this game, but that is going to happen whether Wayne plays or not.”
The former goalkeeper was impressed with the spirit among Gareth Southgate’s England squad over the summer, the first to reach a World Cup semi-final since the 1990 squad he was a part of.
However, Shilton doesn’t think Rooney could or will offer any meaningful change to that.
“There was terrific spirit within the squad this summer and I don’t think Wayne will offer anything different,” he added.
Rooney deserves his farewell England call-up, says Defoe
Rooney’s farewell England appearance has certainly divided opinion and, speaking from the other side of the fence to Shilton, Jermain Defoe has revealed how pleased he is at the sentiment.
Rooney’s former England teammate told Sky Sports: “What a guy and what a player. What he has done throughout his career, for club and country, he has been a special player since day one when he burst onto the scene at Everton.
“I think it will be a really special moment. I would like to go to see it because away from the football side, he is such a nice guy.
“I spent a lot of time with him with England, getting to know him, and he’s a lovely man. He deserves everything he gets.”
For one final time, an England legend will represent his country.
Rooney Returns. 🦁🦁🦁pic.twitter.com/HRV8yl3peX
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 4, 2018
Defoe also thinks Rooney could serve as inspiration for the multitude of young players Southgate is likely to include in his squad.
The Bournemouth striker added: “The boys will love to see him and if I was one of those young forwards, I would be thinking ‘if I can achieve even half [of what Rooney has achieved], then it’s special’.
“With players like that, you have to be a sponge, you have to think ‘I am going to get a little bit from that’.”
Southgate is set to announce the full squad, including Rooney, on Thursday 8, October, as England get set to face USA and then a crunch Uefa Nations League tie with Croatia.
The post England record-holder Peter Shilton unhappy with Wayne Rooney farewell international appeared first on Squawka News.
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