Gareth Southgate: I don't understand fans booing Wayne Rooney
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ByEurosport
Published 08/10/2016 at 21:35 GMT
Gareth Southgate has come to the defence of Wayne Rooney after the England captain was booed during England World Cup qualifier against Malta.
England interim manager Gareth Southgate
Image credit: Reuters
Rooney, 30, was deployed in midfield by interim manager Southgate and there were a smattering of boos aimed at Rooney when his name was read out pre-match.
The Manchester United man, who has been dropped by club coach Jose Mourinho, played the full 90 minutes as England beat Malta 2-0.
"The criticism of him is at times unfair and he ploughs on and plays with pride and captains his country with pride,” said Southgate after the match.
"I look back to the [John] Terrys, the [Frank] Lampards, the Ashley Coles, they took enormous criticism but they were the guys that kept turning out and putting themselves on the line and others haven't done that and withdrawn from squads.
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England's captain Wayne Rooney (R) is watched by England's Interim manager Gareth Southgate during the World Cup 2018 football qualification match between England and Malta at Wembley Stadium in London on October 8, 2016
Image credit: AFP
"Those guys are the ones that are desperate to play for England and I think Wayne is in that category.
I don't understand [the boos] but that seems to be the landscape and I have no idea how that's expected to help him.
"I'm sure they'll look at the number of games and his goalscoring feats for England but I don't understand it."
England play Slovenia on Tuesday hoping to continue their 100 per cent record in qualifying for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
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England's Wayne Rooney
Image credit: Reuters
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