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1) Rooney suited to England captain’s role
The previous time Wayne Rooney came up against Bostjan Cesar it ended with the Slovenian centre-half being injured for five weeks and making it clear that he held the striker responsible. It was, according to Cesar, a “stupid, stupid tackle” that Rooney apparently inflicted on him in England’s 3-1 win at Wembley, though he insisted he was not after revenge in the return game in Ljubljana. “On the pitch I am very aggressive and I enjoy the fight in physical games, but I don’t want to kill him.” He did, however, leave his calling card in the form of the forearm smash into the side of Rooney’s head during England’s 3-2 win and, putting aside for one moment the story of England’s captain and Sir Bobby Charlton’s goals record, that was a moment to demonstrate why the Manchester United player is now entrusted with the armband.Roy Hodgson made the same point after Rooney had moved alongside Gary Lineker on 48 England goals, one short of Charlton with the usual turkey-shoot against San Marino conveniently timed in September to help him get over the line. “Wayne Rooney’s performance says a lot of things about him as a man,” Hodgson said. “Just before he took that chance he took a nasty blow from an elbow, which could have decked many a player and led to him losing his discipline. It didn’t and he got up. I like what that shows, and the fact that one or two chances had gone begging but when the ball fell to him he still stuck it away with aplomb. We can rely on that man.”
2) Maloney is Scotland’s man of this qualifying campaign
Gordon Strachan’s elation over the goal which hauled Scotland back into the game against the Republic of Ireland was matched only by the manager’s delight about the man who helped to provide it. Shaun Maloney has always been an independent thinker and occasionally an over-thinker. His is a career which continues to yield marquee moments, a matter apparently not impacted by his decision to continue his career in Major League Soccer. Maloney could quite easily have remained in England when departing Wigan Athletic last summer but fancied a fresh challenge. The attacker is Scotland’s man of this Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He has consistently been the one to make things happen. When emerging as youth players at Celtic, it was generally accepted that Aiden McGeady was of superior talent to Maloney but the latter’s work ethic and attitude continues to reward him. He has also battled serious injury to remain prominent for club and country; few would merit a trip to a major tournament more.3) Republic look out of date compared to Scotland
At the end of the 19th century “the Scottish style” meant something very specific: passing football, combination play, teamwork, as showcased for admiring crowds by the “Scotch Professors” in the first ever series of international matches against England. Ireland and Scotland’s 1-1 draw at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday was a messy game but a decent result for the Scots, who have looked throughout the campaign the more accomplished of the two teams. Shaun Maloney, James Morrison, Steven Naismith and Scott Brown may not be quite professor-level just yet. But even in a scruffy game there was confirmation in Dublin that Gordon Strachan – who is himself approaching national treasure status – has assembled a team that might not ever threaten to reach the final stages of Euro 2016 but which would at least look it was playing the same game as the best teams there.Against Ireland Scotland passed the ball well enough, crafted some nice triangles on the flanks and generally looked most comfortable playing a technically sound pass-and-move game. Should they fail to qualify from here they will do so in the knowledge that they have at least been pushing in the right direction, whereas much of the gloom around Ireland’s current trajectory is a sense that the basic method is simply a little out of date. Maloney was the most eye-catching player in midfield on Saturday, scorer now of five goals in qualifying and a fine all-round playmaking presence. Scotland may be two or three really good players (at least one of them a high class striker) away from being a top quality team. But Maloney and his fellow ball-playing midfielders would certainly add to the gaiety of a major tournament. Even in the fury of Dublin the glimpses in this qualifying campaign of a more historically Scottish Style have been a pleasure to watch. Barney Ronay
4) Coleman has discovered a match-winning blend
The headlines, inevitably, were commandeered by Gareth Bale, who inspired Wales to the 1-0 win over Belgium last Friday. It was not just his decisive goal, rather the confidence that he spread among his teammates. Yet this momentous effort, which set Wales fair for the Euro 2016 finals – and their first appearance at a major championship since 1958 – was characterised by a collective thou-shalt-not-pass attitude.It has underpinned the campaign so far. Chris Coleman, who deserves huge credit for the turnaround he has overseen, has watched his team concede only two goals, and neither Andorra’s penalty nor Cyprus’ slightly streaky free-kick were from open play. This was Belgium’s second blank against Wales and although they exerted pressure, they were unable to create too much of clear-cut note.
Led by the indomitable Ashley Williams, Wales put bodies on the line and kept Belgium’s highly-rated attackers at arm’s length. But it was not just the defence since Bale and the midfielders worked tirelessly, too. Coleman keeps getting his tactics and organisation spot on. With Bale at the other end, it is a winning blend.
5) Wilmots leaves himself open
Before the tie with Wales, the Belgium manager, Marc Wilmots, insisted that all of the talk about his future – and that of many of his players – had been parked. The focus was exclusively on Wales. Yet on the day of the game, he became embroiled in a remarkable row. Wilmots had been tipped to take over at Schalke, having held talks with the Bundesliga club and he said that he would talk publicly about his future after the Wales game.Yet Schalke moved first, announcing that they had appointed André Breitenreiter to replace Roberto Di Matteo, who resigned in May. Wilmots was furious and he immediately made his feelings known in an interview with Kicker. “To announce such a thing just hours before our crucial Euro 2016 qualifier is incredible and really bad form,” Wilmots said. “Schalke approached me, which is why it’s a bad joke when they make out now that they have turned me down.”
Toby Alderweireld, the Belgium defender, told the Guardian that Wilmots had addressed his future with the players beforehand. “He told us before the game that he is staying,” Alderweireld said. Had the issue been a distraction? “No,” Alderweireld said. “As a group, we were focused on the result.” The subsequent defeat, however, gave Wilmots’ critics plenty of ammunition.
