Rooney insists England favourites against Italy

Football
11 Jul 2021 • 9:02 PM MYT
Tribal Football
Tribal Football

Tribal Football covers news from the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A

Former England captain Wayne Rooney believes they're favourites ahead of their Euro 2020 final against Italy.

The nation's all-time leading scorer fears England's opponents will want to slow the game down, and Harry Kane and Co can't fall into that trap.

The Manchester United great wrote for The Times: "I think we're favourites. Quality wise England have enough and mentally you can see the players are in a good place.

"My one warning would be that we can't get caught up in how Italy play, the way they'll try and slow the game down."

Rooney, who scored 53 goals in a Three Lions shirt and who now manages Derby, revealed how he'd approach the game at Wembley.

He wants to see speed and Italy's centre-backs Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini run ragged.

He said: "If I were Gareth I'd be telling England's players to get the ball down and play quick, keep the tempo high, keep the Italians working, tire them out.

"In 2014, Uruguay were able to break up the game and suck us in to playing the way they wanted — but this England team is more streetwise.

"Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are great players — but not the quickest. I'm sure Gareth and Steve Holland will be looking at Alvaro Morata's goal for Spain in Italy's semi-final.

"It showed that if you can get bodies around those two great centre backs, making sharp movements in behind them, they're not comfortable.

"If England can get Raheem making his inside runs, and Harry and other quick players moving down their sides, Chiellini and Bonucci won't enjoy it one bit."