Don’t make Rooney World Cup scapegoat, says Owen
ENGLAND outcast Michael Owen has leapt to the defence of Wayne Rooney, insisting his Manchester United team-mate does not deserve to be singled out for criticism during the World Cup inquest.
Rooney had his best season yet for United but looked a pale shadow of the rambunctious marksman who terrorised Premier League defences once he joined up with the national team for the trip to South Africa.
His abject failure to perform was arguably the most disappointing element for England of a tournament that had no shortage of low points, from goalkeeping howlers to record thrashings at the hands of Germany.
But Owen believes Rooney was just one of the many from Fabio Capello’s squad who failed to live up to their billing, and backed his erstwhile strike partner to return from a short break in top form.
“People talk about Wayne after the World Cup because he is Wayne, but there were other players who didn’t perform for England,” said Owen.
“He wasn’t at his best but he’s been at his best many times for Man United and England. We all know he’s a top, top, world class player.
“Bear in mind as a striker you need everyone else to play well or you don’t look good either and, whatever the reason was, he’s not been at the top of his game. Maybe if he has a couple of weeks off he’ll be fresh for next season.”
Owen has been repeatedly overlooked by Capello since the Italian took over as manager, leading to the growing belief the 30-year-old may never get to add to his 89 caps.
But the former Liverpool trainee is quick to stress that his absence from the World Cup was first and foremost down to hamstring surgery, and remains hopeful of winning an international recall.
“I missed this tournament through injury,” he added. “Whether I would have been selected or not is a different matter. But I have definitely not retired at all from international football and if I was ever called upon I would go and play.”
Owen admits he too is mystified by England’s dismal summer.
He said: “It was frustrating for everyone. I’ve never known so many questions come out of a tournament and so many opinions about why it went so wrong.
“Everyone’s had their say and you could probably point to many different things that you would improve in the future.”
Michael Owen is part of the launch of Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 on BT Vision. Find out more at www.bt.com/sport