Last updated: 7th September 2008
Capello: No concerns
England manager Fabio Capello insists Wayne Rooney is not becoming frustrated by his lack of international goals.
The Manchester United star has netted only five times for England since scoring twice against Croatia at Euro 2004.
Rooney endured another frustrating night as England opened their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with a victory over Andorra on Saturday.
But Capello insists Rooney is not fazed by critics of his international form, and is backing the 22-year-old to impress against Croatia in Zagreb on Wednesday.
"The game against Andorra was not the perfect game for Rooney," said Capello. "He tried to touch the ball a lot.
"He did one fantastic pass for the second goal and also one other in the first half for Theo Walcott.
"He needs space. Rooney needs space to work. I hope in the next game, he will find the space against a team who will not have nine players behind the ball for most of the game.
"Is Rooney getting frustrated? No. I believe that when you start the season, the biggest players need more time to find their form. He has to find the form.
"He plays well, but he is not fantastic, but, for me, it is important for the team, the movement he is trying."
Meanwhile, Capello is playing his cards close to his chest over Walcott's place in the England team for the meeting with Croatia.
The Arsenal forward is thought to be under threat from Joe Cole, who scored a match-winning brace against Andorra, and the experience of David Beckham.
Capello added: "Walcott is very fast and dangerous. He is young, sometimes he played well, sometimes he will not play well but he is very interesting for the England team.
"Has Walcott done enough to stay in team? Walcott, like Joe Cole, is very important to me. He is a very interesting player."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
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