Wayne Rooney was named England captain on Thursday, taking over the leadership role of an inexperienced team in a rebuilding phase following its worst-ever World Cup.
“He certainly deserves it, his commitment to the cause,” England coach Roy Hodgson said at Wembley. “He is prepared to accept the pressures the England captaincy brings.”
Hodgson confirmed the Manchester United player’s appointment — from a small pool of potential captains — while naming the squad for England’s first European Championship qualifier against Switzerland on Sept. 8 and a friendly against Norway on Wednesday.
Defenders Calum Chambers and Danny Rose, and midfielders Jack Colback and Fabian Delph were called up for the first time.
Rooney has been handed the symbolically-prestigious captaincy role following Steven Gerrard’s international retirement despite a rocky relationship in the past with fans, questions about his temperament following red cards on international duty, and facing criticism over indiscretions in his personal life.
“He has that baggage with him and he will have to accept that as a further part of the pressure,” Hodgson said. “It’s wrong of me to read too much into the past and any misdemeanors he might have had in that time,” the coach added. “In the two years he has been with me I have had no reason to question anything about him - his desire, his commitment.”
At Euro 2016, Rooney will hoping to become only the second England captain to lift a major trophy after Booby Moore at the 1966 World Cup, but just reaching the later rounds would be a sign of progress.
Qualifying for the final tournament in France shouldn’t be a major challenge, with the tournament newly-expanded to 24 in the 54-nation UEFA region. The biggest test in Group E is first up at Switzerland on September 8 after a friendly against Norway at Wembley Stadium.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in training with PSG
PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has resumed light training, and Paris Saint-Germain coach laurent Blanc will be hoping that is enough to spark a lackluster attack.
PSG will play Sunday against second-place Saint-Etienne, a team that has caused the defending French champions problems over the past two seasons.
Ibrahimovic’s return should take the pressure off Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani, who is still struggling to find his best form since joining PSG last season.
Bordeaux will be looking for a fourth straight win when it hosts Bastia on Sunday.Here are some things to know about this weekend’s games.
Bayern set to sign Xabi from Real Madrid
Munich: Bayern Munich hopes to complete the transfer of Real Madrid defender Xabi Alonso in the next day or two, club officials said Thursday.
Bayern financial director Jan-Christian Dreesen said Alonso and Bayern have “in principle” agreed on a transfer and that Alonso was expected in Munich on Thursday for his medical.
“We are in friendly and final talks with Real Madrid and hopefully we will reach an agreement in a day or two,” Dreesen said at a news conference.
Alonso’s expected transfer was announced one day after Bayern signed defender Mehdi Benatia from Roma.
Don’t expect miracles from Di Maria: Van Gaal
MANCHESTER: Angel Di Maria will provide an ailing Manchester United with plenty of missing qualities following his big-money move from Real Madrid — pace, energy, incisiveness and goals.
Just don’t expect instant miracles from the Argentina midfielder. “I hope he shall give us good results,” Manchester United manager louis van Gaal said at Di Maria’s official presentation on Thursday, “but we cannot expect after two days’ training that he is the miracle what I already read.
“No, you have to work for the miracle and he knows that.”
At its lowest ebb since the late 1980s, United is attempting to buy its way out of trouble with Di Maria’s arrival for 59.7 million pounds ($99 million) taking the 20-time English champions’ spending to about 130 million pounds ($215 million). And investment is definitely required.