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Rooney in 'pantheon of English football's finest'

ESPN staff
November 11, 2014
Wayne Rooney has scored 43 goals for England, six short of Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 49 © Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney deserves his place in the "pantheon of English football's finest,'' according to Gary Lineker.

After three World Cups, two European Championships and 43 international goals, the 29-year-old is set to reach a century of caps on Saturday when England face Slovenia in their latest Euro 2016 qualifier.

England's centurions

David Beckham holds the record for most England appearances by an outfielder © Getty Images
  • Peter Shilton: 125 caps, 1970-1990
    David Beckham: 115 caps, 1996-2009
    Steven Gerrard: 114 caps, 2000-2014
    Bobby Moore: 108 caps, 1962-1973
    Ashley Cole: 107 caps, 2001-2014
    Frank Lampard: 106 caps, 1999-2014
    Bobby Charlton: 106 caps, 1958-1970
    Billy Wright: 105 caps, 1946-1959

It is a feat just eight players have previously achieved in an England shirt and one which Rooney plans to celebrate by walking out at Wembley with his children, Kai and Klay.

The England captain's 100th cap will see him bracketed alongside the likes of Bobby Moore, David Beckham and Sir Bobby Charlton. Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for his country, believes the forward deserves to be billed alongside such illustrious company.

"He has to rank right up there in the pantheon of English football's finest,'' Lineker told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He has scored 40-odd goals for his country and has been a consistent performer.

"It has not quite happened for him in major tournaments for various reasons, barring the first one, where he exploded on to the scene in 2004 and played so well.

"He has very rarely gone to a major tournament in prime condition. On other occasions the team has not performed that well. There is no doubt he is a great player. He is brilliant at finding space and dropping deep. He is a good all-round footballer and scores plenty of goals.

"He has been a massive scorer for England, particularly in qualifying games.''

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