ENGLAND’S hesitant and uncertain World Cup campaign acquired hope and purpose within a single minute yesterday. The name of the hope is Wayne and the name of the purpose is Rooney. As a result of these two splendid things, England made a dramatic late shift away from incompetence to beat Trinidad & Tobago 2-0. As a result, they are through to the last 16.
Rooney made a dramatically early return to the side, 6½ weeks after breaking a metatarsal. He came on as a substitute after an hour in which England had struggled desperately against a makeshift team of well-organised, highly motivated has-beens and never-wozzers. In these 60 minutes, in which England lacked all conviction, their supporters chanted his name with a force that was almost prayerful.
When Rooney at last came on, the entire dynamic of the game changed. It was not just what he did that was important — violent, swerving runs into the penalty area, adroit touches, succinct little passes — it was also what happened to the England team. It changed almost as if a switch had been thrown. Players who had been playing poorly were playing well and at once a victory seemed inevitable. The result was not in doubt from the instant Rooney came on. It really is as simple as that.
He did not score the goals himself — perhaps he is saving them for the final. Peter Crouch got the first, from a swirling cross by David Beckham, and Steven Gerrard the second with a stylish net-buster. Not Rooney’s goals, but with only 30 minutes on the pitch, Rooney’s match.
“It is very important,” Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England head coach, said afterwards, with uncharacteristic directness. “Now he is back he will only be better and better and better.” And so another extraordinary episode in the life of Wayne, and England march on. The foot that was broken has been made whole again; a team and a nation rejoice.