On Tuesday night Wayne Rooney has the opportunity to make history by becoming England's all-time top goal scorer.
The Manchester United star is currently level with England legend sir Bobby Charlton on 49 international goals, and has the chance to net his 50th and possibly more in front of a baying Wembley crowd.
It will go down in the record books as fact, Rooney will be the most significant scorer in the country's history... but does he fully deserve that title? That of course would be down to certain individual opinion, but it's certainly got people talking.
Rooney is perhaps one of the most controversial figures to represent the Three Lions. Going from the golden boy who stole english hearts at Euro 2004 to the hot-head who criticized his own fans after getting booed at the World Cup 2010. It hasn't always been plain-sailing for the now England captain. Sent-off against Portugal for an allegedly stamp on Ricardo Carvalho during the quarter-finals at the world Cup 2006 almost seemed to pin-point Rooney's downfall in form Internationally.
Since that incident he has constantly been labelled as a "nearly man"; a player who had the potential to achieve more but for whatever reason never achieved anything greatly significant. Some point to his hair loss as a sign of depression, and whether or not that is truly a major factor, even going as far as having a hair-transplant, the general consensus has been that he hit the limelight earlier than most but has since fizzled out.
Rooney at the top of his game was unplayable. Originally deployed as a striker he was a constant nuisance to opposition teams as he tended to work back in defence as hard as upfront. One moment he was scoring a goal from the six yard box and the next hes making tackles outside his own area. This led many to believe he should be used more as a second-striker and/or possibly an attacking midfielder. But no matter where he has been played he has never guided England further than the quarter-final stage at a major tournament.
Certain sections of fans have even suggested that he should be dropped completely from International football altogether, with the premise of younger and undiscovered talent taking his place.
So overall, does a player who has constantly divided opinion amongst not only his own support but from subjects across the game globally deserve to hold one of its greatest honours? Will he even be seen as an England great after he retires?
Before the recent game against San Marino he was level on International goals with the now retired Gary Lineker. Linker achieved 48 goals in 80 caps for England as well as winning the golden boot at the '86 World Cup, the only English to player to do so to this day. Lineker was also never carder while on England duty and has helped guide the Three Lions to the semi-finals in 1990. He is held in some regard as a cult hero by England fans especially after the iconic incident involving Paul Gascoigne's booking in the semi-final of the aforementioned tournament and becoming presenter of the much loved tv show Match of The Day, Although his adverts for Walkers crisps may have simmered that beloved feeling out a little. So Linker almost broke the record himself in less caps and achieved more in his International career than Rooney has thus far, food for thought...
No can argue of course that if the former Everton star achieves such a feat he deserves it, "A goal's a goal" and "They all count" as they say. At the ripe age of 29, he still has time to prove his doubters wrong. One might see the upcoming European Championships next year as the prefect opportunity to finally achieve significant success. What that success is seen as and whether he can grasp it remains to be seen.
Source: DSG
