The Arsenal playmaker’s career has been defined by interruption, false starts and category-confusion but the early signs are that he can blossom with a fresh start at Bournemouth, who face his parent club on SundayHere’s an interesting thing: just over eight years ago Arsenal thrashed Sheffield United 6-0 in the League Cup, famously fielding a team of gossamer-touch man-ducklings with an average age of 19, described by Arsène Wenger as the best crop of young players he’d ever had. Related: Arsenal plan to offer Jack Wilshere extended deal in new year Related: Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend And he was great that day, surging about with a flex of those stubby legs, a centaur let...
Even without physical comparisons with his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney is unable to keep up with today’s hard-running demandsIn between buffing and burnishing his alarmingly sculpted physique, Cristiano Ronaldo likes to take 3am ice baths to boost his metabolism. He eats six high-protein meals a day, rarely drinks alcohol and refuses soft drinks. Away from the constant task of tweaking his already unimprovable musculature, Ronaldo relaxes by swimming, sleeping a strict eight hours and – oh yes – doing 3,000 sit ups a day in front of the television.It is of course pointless to compare mere mortals with such extreme athletic obsession. But this does still seem to be the lot of Wayne Rooney, in part because of the...
It looked all set for Gareth Southgate’s coronation with Liverpool’s talisman the jewel in the crown. But then it all went wrongPulp the souvenir first editions! Re-cork the Prosecco. Reassume the sober Southgate-era frown. Welcome instead to the almost-dawning of the age of Gareth. On a mild, oddly boisterous night England and their temp-to-perm manager came close to pulling off a genuinely startling result at Wembley, leading Spain 2-0 before two late goals stilled the sense of a dawning coronation, with all the giddy uncertainties such a victory here might have brought.This was still an encouraging match in many ways, if only for the simple pleasure of the occasion. With an hour gone, Mexican waves rolling around this great concrete...
Most of the fans cramming the stadium for international friendlies and qualifiers are after a fairly cheap night out. The result matters rather less than it used toThey are among the hardest working men and women in football. Even before Spain arrive at Wembley on Tuesday night to provide the latest obstacle to the tottering baby steps of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager, those whose job it is to continue to fill Wembley began trumpeting their wares for March’s home qualifier against Lithuania.No matter how big the humiliation or how small the pool of English talent, the masses keep trudging up Olympic Way for the friendlies and qualifying ties that keep the FA’s tills ringing and have helped contribute...
Gareth Southgate seems on course to land the England job, Wales slip up, Republic of Ireland must stifle Gareth Bale and Spain warm up for WembleyCurrently there are no outstanding teams in international football. In part this is down to concentration of money in the club game, which has led to the world’s best players converging at fewer clubs than ever before. But to look at the winners of the last World Cup and European Championship, and to look at the South American giants, is to look at a fallow period across the board. Which is to say that it has never been easier to succeed, which is to say that England stand on the verge of opportunity. Though they...