Why are we ridiculing one of England’s greatest ever players?

You’ve probably read numerous articles on Wayne Rooney’s decline in recent weeks. You’re probably wondering what this article has to offer. “I know he shouldn’t be in the team, what else is this going to tell me”, is probably what you are currently thinking.

Every other footballer in the world is allowed a bad game, but when Rooney struggles, he is targeted from every angle

But this article argues something different. Though I’ll refrain from celebrating Rooney’s wonderful career, I’m simply asking the question: are we too quick to jump on the bandwagon? With performances perceived to be below his best, he has been ridiculed and made the scapegoat for both Manchester United and England. Is this justified for a footballer who has carried the burden of an over-expectant nation for 14 years?

Few people would be able to criticise the work rate of the Englishman. Every time the referee blows his whistle, Rooney can be safe in the knowledge that regardless of how he performed, he gave 100%. That is the only thing he can control on a match-by-match basis. In spite of all this effort, people still find a way to criticise the England captain. It seems as if every other footballer in the world is allowed a bad game, but when Rooney struggles, he is targeted from every angle. The more he tries to impress people, the more he seems to fail. Just be yourself and give 100% – no one can ask any more of you.

Many people like to hit Rooney with the stick that he never achieved anything with his country. Fans seem to forget his breakout performance at the 2004 European Championships, where only injury dented his journey to becoming one of the players of the tournament. From that moment on, fans’ expectations shot through the roof. Looking back, Rooney will be at pains to admit that he has not delivered at major tournaments. However he was not the only one. Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes; many of England’s greatest footballers have failed to live up to the hype. The more expectation heaped on their shoulders, the more intense the inquisition when they fail.

We are ridiculing one of the greatest players in this country’s history

As he enters a defining period in his career fans should take a step back and realise what we possess. A boy who shot through the ranks at Everton to become a national hero. He then joined arguably the biggest club in the world and is close to becoming their top goalscorer, winning every trophy along the way. Only last year, he gained the status of the national team’s record goalscorer. Despite all those accolades, here is a sportsman who has failed to win over the majority of football fans. We are ridiculing one of the greatest players in this country’s history.