Wayne Rooney's record-breaking England career ended with a first: relief not to score.
Whenever the striker touched the ball after coming on in the 58th minute, however far he was from goal in a 120th appearance, fans shouted “Shoot!”
The best chance fell to the 33-year-old Rooney in the second minute of stoppage time against the United States at Wembley Stadium. Primed in the penalty area, Rooney turned to shoot, only to be denied by U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan's low save.
There was a wry smile from Rooney, whose England career ended with 53 goals. It didn't matter for the result, because a new generation of players had already provided the offense that secured a 3-0 win in the friendly against the country Rooney now calls home.
Another yard it would have been in ... and it would have great. But in some ways it’s great because if I did score it would have opened another whole lot of debate whether that goal should count or not. In some ways it’s probably better it didn’t go in.Wayne Rooney
Such was the debate stirred by England's most capped outfield player being recalled after two years off the team to have this ceremonial farewell, 15 years after his debut.
Opinion may have been split around the decision to honour Rooney in the days leading up to the game, but on the night there were no two ways: his team-mates, his opponents, Wembley Stadium – all rose in unison when he came on in the 58th minute, wearing the captain’s arm-band.
By the time Rooney entered the game as former Manchester United teammate Jesse Lingard's replacement, England had done enough for the victory. Lingard and Trent Alexander-Arnold scored within 104 seconds of each other in the first half. As England's record-scorer bid farewell, Alexander-Arnold was joined by striker Callum Wilson in getting their first goals for England.
Once the final whistle sounded, Rooney walked off into the sunset – to unwavering applause from Wembley, and uninhibited emotion from his team-mates, on the pitch as well as on social media.
Off he walked into the (international) footballing sunset, England’s highest goal-scorer and second-most capped international of all-time.
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