Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton believes Wayne Rooney should have retired from international football after this summer’s Euros, and has questioned his role in the team. Shilton’s comments come after he criticised David Beckham in 2008 for receiving cheap international caps.
Speaking to the BBC, Shilton said Rooney was spraying balls around against Slovakia at the weekend, but believes this wasn’t very effective for the team. The former Leicester City and Southampton keeper no longer thinks the Manchester United star is a forward, but will never be a midfield player.
Shilton went on to say this isn’t about Rooney breaking his appearance record for England because if he does play well then it’s fine with him.
“I don’t think he’s a striker anymore. We are trying to fit him in, but he’s not a midfield player for me. Never will be. He is spraying a few balls around, but I don’t think he’s being very effective. I thought he should have retired after the Euros. It’s not because he could break my record. Far from it. If he does and he plays well, fine,” said the former England man.
Despite Shilton stating this wasn’t about Rooney breaking his record, the 66-year-old has passed judgement in the past when Beckham was getting close to his 125 England caps. Like with Rooney, he questioned whether Beckham was worth his place in the England squad under Fabio Capello.
At the time Shilton accused Capello of handing out free caps because the former Manchester United star was only coming on as a substitute for the Italian. Beckham finally ended on 115 appearances, but it looks very likely Rooney will pass Shilton’s record.
