There were glimpses of a familiar fearlessness, flashbacks to the searing pace generated from a standing start, all stocky power and precocious skill to traumatise markers. Wayne Rooney must have seen his youthful self in Jadon Sancho and, having delighted in a fond farewell, departed this stage convinced the baton has been passed on to worthy successors. This had been billed as his night but, in the end, it was the new generation who dazzled.
The former captain’s cameo ultimately amounted to 32 minutes, a period illuminated by one sharp shift on to his left foot to whip away a shot that was claimed, one wonderfully lofted pass for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to gather, and a placed attempt in injury time which so nearly squirmed beyond Brad Guzan only for the goalkeeper to grasp it at full stretch. Rooney’s script did not quite extend to a 54th international goal.
Written by Dominic Fifield at Wembley
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/15/england-usa-international-friendly-match-report under the title “Jadon Sancho lights up Wayne Rooney’s farewell match for England against USA”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
