In the 90th minute- with the game gone – the night found him with his foot on the ball. Standing over a free-kick wide on the left, Wayne Rooney wanted to take it.
Seconds later, after Manchester United’s set piece came to nothing, Rooney was back on the edge of his own penalty area, lunging in with his right foot to stop the breaking Arjen Robben.
It was a fine tackle and an admirable effort. Nobody will feel the pain of Wednesday night’s disappointment more than Rooney. United’s captain-elect for next season, nobody will have run more miles.
As United and manager David Moyes move forward in to an uncertain future, though, it is imperative that they rediscover the Rooney of, the young footballer born to win football matches. Quite simply, Moyes must find a way to turn him back in to what he once was.
On Wednesday night in Bavaria, Rooney had his opportunities, one in each half, to turn this quarter-final United’s way. On neither occasion did he ever look like scoring and that, despite the exertions of the night, will be what kept the 28-year-old awake in his hotel last night.
The first chance arrived after only 20 minutes as Rooney was released through the middle. With Shinji Kagawa free to his left, and Bayern defenders drawn to the ball, Rooney really should have passed. He doesn’t usually want for peripheral vision.
At the very least, he should have released a purposeful shot on goal. In the end, he did neither and a quite unexpected, and gilded, opportunity to set the tone of the night had gone.
Much, much later – with United reeling from a Bayern equaliser – Rooney was presented with a second definitive opportunity.
A second away goal would have sent United through but on this occasion Rooney snatched at the ball as it fell to him 15 yards from goal. To call it a shot would be to exaggerate. It was a lame, tame effort and, in that moment, United’ s race was run.
Rooney was still running at full-time, of course. Adrenaline had long since taken the place of a pain-killing injection to mask a broken toe. The truth is, though, that Rooney looked a tired footballer on Wednesday night.
A long season – on and off the field – had taken its toll and once again he seems to be heading in to a World Cup with his tank registering empty.
In the short term that may well prove to be England’s problem. Their World Cup really is nothing without their best player fit and firing.
For United, though, Rooney is a long-term issue that must be addressed.
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