England captain Wayne Rooney (left) and coach Roy Hodgson during a press conference in Alicante yesterday ahead of today's international friendly against Spain. (Action Images via Reuters)
AFP/London
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane will start for England against Spain in Alicante today after Roy Hodgson revealed he plans to rest captain Wayne Rooney against the European champions.
Hodgson’s attacking options have been further hampered by an injury to on-form Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy that will almost certainly see him miss out. “Vardy is struggling with a knock that he picked up on Saturday. We are monitoring it and working on it, but it looks unlikely that he will play tomorrow,” Hodgson said yesterday.
Vardy has scored 12 goals in as many Premier League matches this season. By contrast, Rooney has just two league goals to his name with Manchester United. However, Hodgson insisted it was his desire to experiment ahead of next year’s European Championships and not Rooney’s form that was the reason for him starting on the bench on Friday.
“Wayne is an emotionally important figure for the team,” said Hodgson.
“He won’t start the game tomorrow, that is for the very simple reason that we are looking for different combinations and he is pencilled in for the game against France (on Tuesday).”
Rooney admitted he never likes looking on from the sidelines, but is happy to take the hit to his pride if it means improving England’s chances of success in France next summer. “As a player you want to play but you have to understand there are bigger things to consider in terms of tournament football.”
England stormed through their qualifying group with a perfect set of 10 wins from 10 games.
However, impressive qualifying campaigns have been met ultimately with disappointment on the big stage in recent years and Rooney acknowledged they face a big step up in quality against Spain and France in the coming week.
“Our main objective was to quality. We’ve done that and now we have to move on,” he added.
“Tomorrow night will be a tough game, Spain are a tough team with a lot of very good players and then we have another tough game against France.
“We have to concentrate on these two games. We have to perform and learn the way we want to play better. We know these games will be a tougher test than many we faced in the qualifiers.”
Hodgson, meanwhile, is hoping that those who come into the side make his decision over which 23 players he includes in his squad next summer as difficult as possible.
“We’ve got a very strong group of players and we hope Jamie will recover and be ready for the second game. The two games give us the ideal opportunity because anyone who takes their chance will be that one step further forward.”
Spain have won the past two European Championships and, despite a disastrous showing at the 2014 World Cup, Hodgson believes they have the capability to complete an unprecedented treble.
Yet, he also urged his young squad not to be overawed as he rates England amongst a host of nations that can realistically fight to win the Euros.
“I think they are capable because they have the quality, the experience and a manager who knows what it is ike to win major tournaments.
“In almost every position there are two quality players, but there are other teams out there that are believing. I think it is a very exciting Euros ahead because there is no clear favourite.”
Fifteen games and 17 months have passed since England last tasted defeat when their World Cup in Brazil was brought to an early end after just two games by a Luis Suarez-inspired Uruguay in Sao Paulo.
England will also face France at Wembley on Tuesday as they seek tougher tests than they faced in a hassle-free qualifying group to try and avoid recent flops at major tournaments despite impressive qualifying campaigns.
“It’s a good challenge. Obviously the last 12-15 months we’ve gone unbeaten but this week is going to be massive test for us against the big nations in Europe,” Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling said. “If we can show what we can do here, it is a real bonus for us going into the summer. Hopefully we can do well in these games and get a win.”
Spain suffered just the one defeat in qualifying to Slovakia over a year ago. However, their recent form in friendlies against Europe’s traditional powerhouses gives England plenty of room for encouragement after defeats to France, Germany and the Netherlands in the past 14 months. However, captain Iker Casillas believes Spain are still feared around Europe having claimed three consecutive major tournament victories, including the 2010 World Cup, before their flop in Brazil.
“We are capable of winning a fourth title. Every country wants to win the European Championships and we are going there with the idea of doing that again.
“From afar they see us as champions. They know Spain have a well-formed team and will for sure be among the favourites to win the tournament.”
Del Bosque has recalled Chelsea’s Diego Costa despite his poor form at club level and having scored just once in 11 appearances since switching his allegiances from Brazil to Spain. However, Juventus’ Alvaro Morata is expected to start up front, whilst injuries to David Silva and Isco mean Celta Vigo’s Nolito or Manchester United’s Juan Mata could get a rare chance to impress.
