That's the same number that Messi had until Brazil last year.

 

And that's poor as well. It's a great achievement, but to marvel over it to the extent the media will go to is really ridiculous.

Agreed, but I'm just pointing it out because stats pretty much mean nothing. I'd rather be part of a World cup winning squad like Bobby Charlton than score a few extra goals against some pretty mediocre competition.

Agreed the media well overhyped it. The fact there are more possibilities to play more matches & against weaker sides these days says it all really and I really don't think it'll take all that long for someone else to overtake Rooney after he retires.

Fifty international goals is an impressive achievement. However, that still puts him only just inside the top 50 international goal-scorers of all time. Of course, he may have a few more years to go to climb higher up that list.

Could argue that Charlton did in a superior team against weaker International opponents. Even smaller countries are well-organised now and make life difficult for England whereas in Charlon's day England would score 8 or 9 goals against teams like Mexico and Scotland!

 

I don't think his achievement should be downplayed. Just because he isn't the same player as at EURO 2004.

I think it's just he's got the tag of always scoring against minnows & from the penalty spot. If his scoring record in major tournaments (or actually his general performances) were better he would get a lot more credit.

50 International goals to his career, what's next an O.B.E. for his achievement.

I think it's just he's got the tag of always scoring against minnows & from the penalty spot. If his scoring record in major tournaments (or actually his general performances) were better he would get a lot more credit.

 

Yeah that's it exactly. Scoring braces against San Marino & Lichenstein can be done by most players for England. What people forget is bar Euro 2004 when he was amazing, he's not performed at all in the tournament stage. It's why Messi gets so much stick as well, but a few years ago (especially around 2010) Rooney was comfortably inside the top 10 players in the world, and he should have done so much more when it mattered.

The England squad for the matches against Estonia and Lithuania which was announced on Thursday:

 

 

 

 

Goalkeepers:

 

Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

 

Defenders:

 

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton)

 

Midfielders:

 

Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

 

Forwards:

 

Danny Ings (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

 

 

What do you make of the squad?

 

Stones out of the squad. Walker and Townsend in

Going to Dublin on Thursday for Ireland Germany - can't wait!

This isn't England related but I can't find another thread so I'll pop this in here!

 

Albania are currently beating Armenia 3-0 and are therefore just 10 minutes away from their first ever European Championships appearance, prior to this year they'd never finished higher than 4th in a qualifying group (and that was only out of 5). Going to be a fantastic story as long as Armenia don't stage an unbelievable comeback. :o

England become the 6th side to finish with a 100% record in the Euros qualifications.

 

I doubt Spain and Germany will be quaking in their boots in their upcoming friendlies against England.

England become the 6th side to finish with a 100% record in the Euros qualifications.

 

I doubt Spain and Germany will be quaking in their boots in their upcoming friendlies against England.

 

Probably not quaking, but this current Spain team is nowhere near as good as their 2012 side, and Germany have been in bits and sorts recently.

Spain are not the force that they were between 2008-2012. I don't think they will even make it to the semi-finals at Euro 2016.

It will be interesting to see if England have progressed from the World Cup in these upcoming friendlies.

Anybody watching Spain England tonight?

 

Good to see Kane upfront without Rooney, should be an interesting game!

A very expected outcome but 2 great goals so no shame in losing to a far superior outfit.

No, I watched Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ireland. Or, more accurately, in the second half, I didn't see it. It was played in rather thick fog, so I rarely saw the ball :lol:

Yeh it was ridiculous - good result tho. Looking forward to Dublin tomorrow night!