adminLONDON. — Wayne Rooney admits England can’t afford a slow start to their Euro 2016 soccer qualifying campaign against Switzerland tonight.Roy Hodgson’s team head to Basle desperately in need of a strong performance and result to erase the bitter taste of their miserable World Cup campaign.
The road to the Euros in France starts with a potentially tricky clash with the Swiss, who are likely to be England’s only serious rivals to win Group E.
Switzerland — who only lost to an Angel di Maria goal for Argentina in the dying minutes of extra-time of their last 16 World Cup clash — are ranked ninth in the world and are the bookmakers favourites to win today’s encounter at St Jakob-Park against an England team still suffering from a World Cup hangover.
After a lacklustre 1-0 friendly win over Norway in midweek was greeted with criticism, England boss Hodgson cut a tetchy figure as he swore at reporters who questioned his team’s lack of shots on target.
Against that depressing backdrop, England captain Rooney knows his side can’t afford to let the post-World Cup negativity linger any longer.
“It is important to start the qualifying campaign off with a good result,” Rooney said.
“It is important to try and win the game, but I think not to get beat and give Switzerland the upper hand from the first game is vital.”
The English public’s apathy in the wake of the World Cup was highlighted by the fact Wednesday’s friendly against Norway attracted Wembley’s lowest crowd for an international since the stadium’s opening in 2007.
To make matters worse, the 40 181 that did turn up were hardly wowed as England’s display lacked inspiration and quality.
However, Manchester United striker Rooney is confident that good times are around the corner, pointing to the spirit and excitement brought by the performance in the World Cup opener against Italy, even if the game in Manaus ended in defeat.
“It’s exciting times,” he said. “The Italy and Uruguay games were disappointing results, but I thought we did well in both games.
“It could have gone either way, but we lost and we’re out. We played some great attacking football. The lads who were at that tournament have gained vital experience from the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck insists he can become a prolific goalscorer for club and country if he is played in a central position.
The 23-year-old, who joined Arsenal on deadline day, is poised to start England’s opening European qualifier against Switzerland tonight after first-choice striker Daniel Sturridge suffered a thigh injury in training.
Welbeck’s goalscoring record — 29 goals in 142 games — is in part a reflection of his being asked to play wide on the left for both club and country recently and he says he will improve on that ratio, especially if he plays in his favoured centre-forward position.
“I prefer to play as a centre-forward,” he told the Sunday Times. “We’ll see (about his scoring rate) when I get my opportunity to do that. I’ve never had the opportunity to get a consistent run of games as No. 9 but have faith in my ability.” With the international retirements of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, Welbeck is now one of the more senior members of Roy Hodgson’s England squad.
“I’m no longer a young player. There are a lot of younger players than me in the squad, by quite a few years,” he added.
“It’s good to see that youngsters are being given the opportunity to play in the national side. You see in training the outstanding talent they’ve got and how it can have a massive impact.
“Coming to this stage of my career, I really want to push on and be the best I can be.”
Tonight’s European Championship Qualifying Fixtures (all 8:45pm unless otherwise stated)
Switzerland v England; Luxembourg v Belarus; Spain v Macedonia; Ukraine v Slovakia; Estonia v Slovenia; San Marino v Lithuania; Russia v Liechtenstein (6pm); Austria v Sweden; Montenegro v Moldova. — AFP.
Online Reporter