Wayne Rooney saves the day

Tallinn (Estonia): Wayne Rooney spared Roy Hodgson’s blushes as the England captain’s fine free-kick secured a 1-0 win against 10-man Estonia in a hard-fought Euro 2016 qualifier in Tallinn on Sunday.

 

Hodgson had taken a significant gamble by leaving out Raheem Sterling after he complained of feeling tired in training and England looked impotent without the teenage Liverpool midfielder for long periods at the Le Coq Arena.

 

Even after Estonia captain Ragnar Klavan was dismissed for a second booking early in the second half, Hodgson’s side still laboured to see off the Baltic minnows.

 

But they finally made the breakthrough thanks to Manchester United striker Rooney, who curled home a free-kick with 17 minutes remaining to maintain England’s 100 per cent record after three Group ‘E’ matches.

 

Rooney’s moment of inspiration took him to 43 international goals within one of Jimmy Greaves and only six behind record holder Bobby Charlton’s tally of 49.

 

“It was hard work. We played well in the first half without taking our chances and that meant there was an air of frustration setting in,” Hodgson told ITV.

 

“It was a good free-kick from Wayne and it’s four wins in a row, which is not to be sniffed at.”After winning their opening two qualifiers at a canter, Hodgson and his players had boldly declared their desire to win all 10 group matches.

 

They remain on course to fulfil that ambition, but this was hardly the kind of dynamic display Hodgson would have hoped for from his youthful line-up.

 

 

Meanwhile in Luxembourg, Diego Costa bagged his first goal for Spain as the champions got the defence of their European title back on track with a 4-0 win over minnows Luxembourg in Euro 2016 qualifying Group ‘C’ on Sunday.

 

The goals came from David Silva and Paco Alcacer in the first half, with Costa snatching the third on 69 minutes, while substitute Juan Bernat made it 4-0 with a debut goal on 87 minutes.

 

Spain, who lost to Slovakia on Thursday, are now second on goal difference in Group ‘C’ on six points from three games, with Ukraine placed third.