Turkish bath awaits Rooney

Euro 2004: Now that Liechtenstein have been cleared away, the English have an unobstructed view of Istanbul - despite the dread of hooliganism - and the fixture at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium on October 11th.

Even as administrators fret over security procedures the English players can only rejoice that a game such as this lies before them.

England have to give a performance that lives up to their grand ambition, and a challenge such as this has been sorely missed. A life made up of Liechtensteins would be unbearable.

Even Sven-Goran Eriksson might conceivably be getting excited about the appointment in Istanbul, where England must at least draw to secure automatic qualification for the Euro 2004 finals. "In one way you can compare it with Germany," the coach said. "We knew then that, if we didn't beat Germany, we could never win the group."

The challenge is not quite so stiff in Istanbul, but Eriksson, in drawing a vague parallel, was really intent on evoking memories of the transcendent 5-1 win in Munich.

After the drudgery of beating Liechtenstein, it was the perfect moment to remind everyone in England that their players are actually capable of occasional bursts of excellence.

Eriksson, however, now has to pick a line-up to conjure an inspirational evening in Istanbul.

England are often alleged to be handicapped by a dependence on David Beckham, Michael Owen and one or two others, but other nations are at least as reliant on a smattering of stars. With Zinedine Zidane unfit, France could neither win a game nor score a goal at the 2002 World Cup.

The England coach is more fortunate than most of his counterparts. He now has one more individual to add to his core group of dynamic figures.

The selection of Wayne Rooney against Turkey is considered a conundrum, but it is one that Eriksson has to solve. There is little else to occupy his thoughts. David James, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole (despite the challenge of Wayne Bridge), Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Owen should all take the field at Fenerbahce's ground.

The remaining place must go to Rooney. Eriksson himself knows that it is ill-advised and cowardly not to give such a performer his due, even if he is 17. It was the coach's bold decision to give Rooney his first start for his country against Turkey in Sunderland.

"I think he's one of the players opposing teams would be happy to see on the bench rather than in the team," said Eriksson, who does not suppose that the teenager would be cowed by the hostility in Istanbul.

"What Rooney has shown so far with England is that he's not afraid of anything, he's not impressed by anything and is always calm. So I shouldn't be afraid at all to put him in from the start."

Those who argue for the exclusion of Rooney believe that England will need the mature power of Emile Heskey as the forwards receive a buffeting from the Turkey defence. While the Liverpool forward was an influential substitute in Macedonia, the game in Istanbul may, however, have a different character.

With Senol Gunes's side requiring a win, England may be able to play in the counter-attacking style that suits them so well. Rooney could lurk in the same deep-lying position he occupied so impressively at Old Trafford, even if there is only a single attacker, Owen, ahead of him in Istanbul.

"Even when Rooney plays as a striker he drops off naturally," said Eriksson, "but when he can turn with the ball and go at defenders he has the quality to play people in or dribble or make a shot. He's not only got one talent, as a goalscorer. There's many things he's good at."

Much as England relished Rooney's second international goal, it was his flair, positioning and all-round play-making that alleviated the drabness of their match on Wednesday.

The Everton player had a greater creative presence than Beckham.

It would be folly for Eriksson to deny himself such verve, but he will also need to prepare for the return of Scholes. It seems that the midfielder will not require a hernia operation and he could be back in the Manchester United line-up at Highbury in nine days' time.

Even if Scholes has not scored for England since June 2001, the coach's faith in him has not diminished in the slightest. Eriksson said the other day that he could not imagine willingly picking a line-up without him. The only issue is where to field him. If Gerrard joins Butt to give the midfield a dynamic and powerful core, Scholes would be sited on the left.

He has often been placed there by his club and he has the awareness to provide cover for Ashley Cole on that flank. When opportunity arose, he could also slip inside on the break to link with Owen and Rooney.

The Everton forward has already unnerved Turkey at the Stadium of Light and, if the emphasis is on guile next month, he may thrive again.

Guardian Service