Can Roo bounce back after tabloid scandal?
It wasn’t long before the feel-good factor from Friday night’s 4-0 victory over Bulgaria came to a juddering halt, and that’s before England had even checked-in for their flight to Basel.
Wayne Rooney had a hand in three of England’s goals in the opening Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday night but all the while, tabloid hacks were preparing for yet another “Soccer Star Sex Scandal” headline. On Sunday, reports emerged in the Mirror and News of the World that the Manchester United had slept with a prostitute whilst his wife Coleen was pregnant with their first child.
Rooney has, unsurprisingly, been kept away from prying eyes by the FA press team but he is fully expected to start against Switzerland tomorrow night although coach Fabio Capello and various teammates have been wheeled out in a carefully choreographed show of support.
“We have got to make sure things don’t affect us,” proclaimed James Milner. “Things are always being said in the paper, good and bad, about the England team.
“That is part and parcel of football. The only thing that matters is what happens on the field. We just have to make sure we get the result.
“Yes, he has an issue off the pitch but I don’t think that will stop him playing well,” added Steven Gerrard, himself no stranger to dealing with off-field distractions in recent times.
Capello had the final word, weighing in with; “I hope his performance will be the same as at Wembley. I spoke with him and he is happy to play.”
On the field, England will be looking to back up Friday’s victory with another three points away from home against the team that, on paper, provides England’s strongest opposition to that sought after trip to Poland and Ukraine.
The Swiss have yet to start their qualifying campaign but did warm up with a 0-0 stalemate against Australia and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is likely to have his side well-drilled for the visit of the group favourites.
England only have the one injury concern, with defender Michael Dawson likely to be replaced by Bolton’s Gary Cahill after he sustained an ankle injury on Friday. Hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe has recovered from the knock that saw him limp off.
