World Cup 2006
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Harry Harris - Chief Football Writer - The Express
Give Rooney the armband!
David Beckham was a fine England captain. In a two-way street he was proud to wear the armband, and he was a stylish ambassador for our game. I recall how Peter Taylor gave him the captaincy in Italy to lead a new vibrant young England team.
I can also recall how Sven Goran Eriksson sat on the fence thinking about whether Beckham should retain the captaincy, and put him on 'trial' for a series of games. I also knew that at that time he was leaning toward Sol Campbell as his captain.
But Beckham, by his own admission, didn’t think of himself as captaincy material when he first got the job, but he grew into and had his moment, and in my book can be regarded, for a variety of reasons, as one of the best.
Not the best, and no where near the best as he never really came close to lifting a trophy for England. But that shouldn't be held against him too much as only Bobby Moore has managed that feat.
But looking at what the captaincy did for Beckham leads me to argue the case for considering Wayne Rooney as the next captain of England. What! I can just sense the reaction to that one.
He's had far too much of this blistering heat. But think about it. Giving Beckham the captaincy changed his personality on the field. He grew up quickly, grew out of that temperamental streak that got him red carded in the World Cup against Argentina in France in similar circumstances to Rooney in Germany.
Rooney is England's future. He can be the pivotal player in the real Golden Generation to come, but only if he curbs that character defect which haunted Beckham. The responsibility of leadership cured Beckham. It can do the same for Rooney.
Four years ago, as England crashed out tamely to Brazil, I sought my mystical crystal ball and predict the line up for the next World Cup. Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe figured prominently in my 2006 Team of the Future, and for a variety of reasons Defoe was left at home (grave error by Sven) and Carrick was edged out of the holding role by Owen Hargreaves (grave error by Sven).
Related Links
Harry Harris archive
- 1. Harry Harris writes for ntlworld
- 2. Can England do it This Time?
- 3. There's only one Metatarsal
- 4. England best for talent
- 5. Bags packed, fingers crossed
- 6. Thrills, spills and intrigue
- 7. Prawn sarnies, cap controversy and Swedish sentiment
- 8. Swedish endurance in Soho
- 9. Scolari has some explaining to do
- 10. Give Rooney the armband
- 11. A triumph for Germany