The end of Wayne Rooney’s England career has been on his mind for some time. Last August, Rooney was due to speak to the media at St George’s Park to discuss then manager Sam Allardyce’s decision to retain him as captain.
The debate over his ongoing worth to the team continued to rage but Rooney, unprompted, chose to redefine the press conference, take control of the agenda and announce his intention to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup.
Rooney has always wanted to bow out on his own terms and now is a good moment to do it. We may never know for certain whether Gareth Southgate truly intended to call up Rooney for next month’s games against Malta and Slovakia but it a convenient line for all sides.
After two goals in as many matches upon his return to Everton, Rooney was able to step down from a position of relative strength after spending the past two seasons gradually being phased out at Manchester United and under constant scrutiny with England.
It is a shame we have seen the last of Rooney in an international tournament but that sentiment is born out of regret over past missed opportunities.
In reality, Rooney had become the antithesis of England’s attempt to develop a progressive, vibrant attack, something Roy Hodgson and Allardyce recognised by deploying their captain in midfield. Reputation demanded his inclusion, form increasingly suggested otherwise.
Rooney’s intelligence in possession endures and there was perhaps a role for him in Russia, not just using his experience behind the scenes, but as a substitute helping England retain possession to improve their game management.
However, a bit part role does not always appeal to someone who has spent more than a decade as the leading man.
The end should not define the journey. Rooney may have peaked in tournament terms 13 years ago but his commitment to the cause has been unwavering during an England career in which he amassed 119 caps totalling 8,934 minutes on the pitch, a record 53 goals and 22 matches leading out his country as skipper.
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The start to Rooney’s international career at Euro 2004 was so improbably stunning that what followed was always measured against near-impossible standards. England were crying out for a match winner who was capable of a elevating England to new heights with jaw-dropping moments of brilliance.
A more monotonous march towards becoming record goalscorer and surpassing the appearance record for an outfield player is disappointingly functional by comparison but that misconception should not define his legacy. Rooney carried the hopes of a nation for years.
Sometimes it threatened to consume him but it was something he never shied away from, in latter days assuming the captaincy with reverence for the position.
Now Everton have given him a chance to take centre stage, the 31-year-old wants to seize it with both hands. And it is yet another testament to Rooney that just about everyone in football wants to see him succeed.