The national media have unpleasantly targeted Wayne Rooney as a sort of scapegoat for utterly misplaced national expectations of the England team’s performance at the 2014 World Cup.
They were lucky to qualify. They were never going to get out of Group D. Until our football system is radically reformed and decoupled from its hard wiring to money in excess above all things, England is not going to be an international contender.
Over the years when Rooney has been an inarticulate spoiled brat, fuelled by a sense of entitlement to whatever he wanted, the sports media clique have been uncritical and promotional of him.
When Alex Ferguson was working to bring a sense of reality to Rooney’s perspectives, the media sided with the player, talking him up at a time when his performances did not support that; and blind to what was actually in his best interests.
In Brazil, Rooney has never looked leaner or fitter. He has never worked as hard. He has never looked as keen to work hard. He has never seemed as utterly committed to what he is doing. He has never been as focused, as mature, as clear eyed and as articulate.
And the dog pack go for his heels. That’s judgment? That’s simply a shame.
