Like it or lump it, Wayne Rooney is England’s record goalscorer. After 106 caps, the Manchester United striker has amassed 50 international goals – at the age of 29, we can probably expect that number to enlarge in the coming years.
With the debilitating pressure of ‘a Nations expects’ like attitude heaped upon his shoulders, Wayne Rooney has been both a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals.
Importance aside, here are his top 5 England efforts.
There be some stonkers.
Croatia 2004
Ah Euro 2004. The last time England strung some genuinely convincing performances in a major tournament.
With the opening group game going well and truly tits up against a fortuitous France side, The Three Lions needed a Gazza-esque young diamond in the rough to lift squad spirits.
Luckily a young 18 year old Wayne Rooney was on hand to strike genuine fear into any back four the side came against – in this case Croatia
England stomped to a 4-2 win, Rooney’s contribution was a beaut.
Brazil 2014
Whilst Oxlade Chamberlains struck a similarly epic effort in the same match, Wayne Rooney’s top corner curler proved that England only ever scores worldies when playing at the Maracana….as long as it’s a friendly.
Iceland 2004
Having just achieved the superb feat of Euro 2016 qualification, the tiny nation of Iceland have come a hell of a long way in the last 10 years.
Not saying it was definitely a direct result of this Rooney long-ranger….but, perhaps.
Holland 2002
AN U-21 GOAL! surely this isn’t allowed.
In a slight diversion from the other ‘top Rooney goals’ list flying around the internet at this moment, we give you this absolute gem scored against Holland during England’s 2002 u-17 European Championship in Denmark.
Okay, whilst it didn’t attribute to his tally of 50 goals, it still a real beauty starting off from a fine England move, a rare occurrence indeed.
We are mavericks….
Denmark 2003
Because we’re absolute suckers for an in-off the bar effort, here’s Rooney’s strike during England’s 3-2 Old Trafford defeat to Denmark.
Skip forward to 32 seconds if the video doesn’t start there automatically.