Comparisons Are Easy To Make Between Wayne Rooney And Bobby Charlton

There is little on the football field that matches the exhilaration of watching a long-range shot surge into the back of the net. Unless you are the goalkeeper of course. The England Squad has always had players who could who gave an old-fashioned thunderous whack to the ball. Nat Lofthouse and Alan Shearer spring to mind but perhaps the most apt comparison is between Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney. Both Rooney and Charlton’s England careers show plenty of parallels, and are known for the ability to shoot ferociously from distance, as well as being stocky, quick and powerful.

Fitness and form permitting, Wayne Rooney would seem to be on track to join Charlton as one of England’s centurions, being capped at 17 and with 58 caps at the age of 24. Bobby Charlton is of course England’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 49 goals at a ratio of 2.16 per game, while Rooney’s goals rise to 25 at a ratio of 2.32.

They share a club as Manchester United players and while Charlton was often considered England’s talismanic player in his legendary career, Rooney is one of the current crop to whom supporters look for effort and inspiration. Then of course there is a world class talent for belting the ball that is their other common bond. Players who strike the ball flat, straight and hard are admired for making a hugely difficult skill look simple. Classic examples of this are world famous goals by Charlton against Mexico in the summer of 1966, or Rooney against Croatia at Euro 2004 or more recently against Iceland. There is hope that the current thunderbolt shooter in the squad will be banging them in this summer in South Africa for all England football supporters, but it will be once Wayne Rooney has moved on from international football.