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May 26, 2017

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England ax for Rooney

ENGLAND’S record international goalscorer Wayne Rooney has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for next month’s World Cup Group F qualifier in Scotland and a friendly with France.

The 31-year-old forward, who lost his place in Manchester United’s first team, was also left out by England earlier this year for matches against Germany and Lithuania.

Southgate named a 25-man squad which includes Tottenham Hotspur right back Kieran Trippier for the first time.

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, who scored on his return to the international scene against Lithuania in March, retains his place.

Rooney, who has scored a record 53 goals for his country, has not featured in the squad since the home victory over Scotland in November.

The striker holds the outfield record of 119 caps and needs seven more to surpass goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s England record total.

England is the favorite to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals and leads its group with 13 points from five games, four more than second-placed Slovakia.

Scotland is fourth, six points off the pace, and struggling to stay in contention for a place in Russia next year.

“The Scotland game is one of football’s great fixtures,” Southgate said. “We’re in a place in the group where a win can really put us in a very strong position, that’s what we want to achieve.”

England faces Scotland at Hampden Park on June 10 before playing France in Paris three days’ later.




 

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