Wayne Rooney appointed the best midfielder in Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard

While England is lucky to have people like Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden from whom to choose at the heart of their midfielder these days, not so long ago that Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes were all available in the machine room.

The current generation is special, but the last “gold generation” of England undoubtedly had the most talent at its disposal in search of a first honor since the 1966 World Cup.

It was not only in the midfield that the three Lions were spoiled for talent. It’s a team that also included Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. And the list could continue.

Many explained why England was thrown outside the 2002 World Cup, then in penalties against Portugal at Euro 2004, including Lampard. The former midfielder of England and Chelsea told journalists: “I think sometimes we [the Golden Generation] were too rigid. I am talking about my own personal experience of playing during the World Cups against teams that were not at our level.

“I am not talking about France and Italy, more teams like the Ecuador, who kept the ball in the midfield because they were more numerous at the center of the park. Things that perhaps me and Stevie [Steven Gerrard] used to do where we had figures, now we just try to cover the space and you ended up a little mentally in the game asking you why it happens. “”

In numerical inferiority or not, it is undeniable that the quality of England had particularly in the middle of the park. But finding the right balance between Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes have often turned out to be the biggest problem of the three lions, and which has sparked a debate in the midfield that has groaned for decades since.

Rooney named Gerrard as his greatest teammate in England

Having played with the three at the international level and Scholes with Manchester United also, Rooney should be an expert in the debate in the midfielder of elderly England, and he returned his official verdict to overlap in 2024.

“Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are all different. As a versatile, Stevie is the best; he can defend, pass the ball, run, attack, score goals, set parts. As a versatile, he is the best from this point of view.”

While praising the three, Rooney then reiterated that Scholes could not achieve what Gerrard did in a Liverpool team which often had trouble competing with the best honors: “All were world class players. Stevie could come to Manchester United and be a high -level player and do what Scholes could do. But I don’t think Scholes could do what Stevie did to Liverpool.”

The figures certainly do not help end the debate after the Verdict of Rooney, but what they highlight is the clear failure of England with the three at their disposal in a generation of gold.