After 115 appearances and 53 goals, Wayne Rooney has announced that the 2018 World Cup will mark the end of his England career.
The Manchester United midfielder forward, who will continue to captain his country under new manager Sam Allardyce, will be 32 by the time the tournament in Russia concludes.
And he confirmed today that the upcoming World Cup will be his last in an England shirt, telling the press at St George’s Park that his “mind is made up”.
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“Realistically I know myself that Russia will be my last opportunity to do anything with England. Hopefully I can end my time with England on a high,” said the 30-year-old, who made his international debut against Australia in 2003.
Allardyce confirmed last night that Rooney would retain the captain’s armband despite him coming in for criticism after England’s Euro 2016 elimination at the hands of Iceland.
Rooney was England’s top scorer in qualifying for the tournament, finding the net seven times, with Danny Welbeck (six) the only other player to score more than three during the campaign.
He was listed as a midfielder in Allardyce’s first England squad – which also includes first-time call-up Michail Antonio – but the former Sunderland boss confirmed that he sees the United man as a number 10.
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