Manchester United’s World Cup-winning legend Sir Bobby Charlton is unhappy with the country’s perennial failure to produce sides capable of challenging for the trophy since he helped clinch the 1966 edition.
The 76-year-old singled out Wayne Rooney as being the only true ‘world class’ player in the Three Lions squad and says the 28-year-old must start in Manaus against Italy on June 14 despite an indifferent season.
However, dating back to Fabio Capello’s 2008-12 regime, Charlton said he recalls the Italian complaining about a lack of quality and not much has changed since.
“Wayne Rooney is the only one that comes to mind when you think of where are our class players coming from,” Charlton told Laureus.
“It’s unbelievable to think that the great England, with all the history that has gone on over the years, cannot get enough players together for specific tournaments.
“It is something that bothers me a lot. To think of us winning, I think probably no. I cannot in all honesty say that England will win.”
Even with Rooney at 50%, the United talisman still holds the key to unlocking defences as he showed at the 2004 European championship when a teenager.
Despite eight World Cup games without a single goal however, Charlton believes Rooney can show a young side the way in Brazil.
“Wayne will have to play. He’s just got that something extra. He will thrive, I think, on a successful performance in the World Cup.
“I think that a lot of the others are young, and they have an opportunity and they have something to prove, but it’s going to be difficult.
“In every position there seems to be a little bit of doubt in my mind, apart from Wayne Rooney and even Wayne would want to play in certain positions, but it’s up to the manager.”
Munich air crash survivor Charlton also commented on how he hopes Rooney will break his record number of 49 goals for England, with Rooney currently on 38.
“I tell him that if anybody is going to beat my record for the number of goals it better be you, and I said so don’t let me down, and he says OK,” said Charlton.
“He’s young enough and he has the ability. When he scores he likes the thought of it and he has a great attitude.
“I think that if everything goes well and he is not injured he will certainly be England’s great football player. He has a quality that is made for a World Cup.”
Charlton is a Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador for Laureus (www.laureus.com), a charity which uses sport to help millions of children worldwide.
Main image courtesy of Laureus, with thanks.
