Rooney has retired from international football too early –Erikson

Former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson believes Wayne Rooney’s retirement from the England national team is premature.

The 31-year-old record England scorer with 53 goals in 119 appearances announced his international retirement on Wednesday.

“Every time I was selected was a real privilege but I believe now is the time to bow out,” said Rooney.

But 69-year-old Eriksson, who gave Rooney his international debut in 2003, told Sky Sports on Wednesday: “If I was the manager I would try to convince him to delay it (the international retirement) until after the next World Cup.

“It is a fantastic career, sometimes he has been criticized but fact is fact – the games he has played and goals he has scored during my time were world class, you don’t score that number of goals without being world class.”

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Wayne Rooney, who scored his 200th Premier League goal in Everton’s 1-1 draw with manchester City on Monday night, had said during the post-match interview that he wants to “focusing on Everton” rather than an international recall.

“I’m sure I’ll speak to Gareth Southgate over the next few days,” he added. “We’ll see what happens.”

The 31-year-old Manchester United legend, who began his top flight-career at Goodison Park, rejoined the Toffees on a free transfer in July.

He has scored in the side’s two opening games of the Premier League campaign, having been the hero in their 1-0 win over Stoke City in their season’s opener.

Rooney will lead Everton to Hajduk Split for the second leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday.

 

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