FIFA experts praise England striker Wayne

LONDON - Despite being heavily criticised for his lethargic performances in South Africa, FIFA’s technical study group has come out in praise of England striker Wayne Rooney describing him as ‘hard-working and energetic’.

Rooney failed to score and hardly made a decent contribution as the Three Lions scraped through their group before crashing out 4-1 to Germany, The Sun reports.

The FIFA gurus have in a report hailed the Manchester United star as ‘hard-working and energetic’ and showing ‘good technique’.

The failed to score and hardly made a decent contribution as the Three Lions scraped through their group before crashing out 4-1 to Germany.

England were held by USA and Algeria and their only win was over no-hopers Slovenia.

Despite it, the 16-man panel of experts - which includes former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier and ex-Scotland chief Andy Roxburgh - were impressed by Fabio Capello’s flops.

FIFA stressing Capello’s squad were a group of ’strong, hard-working players with aerial strength used effectively at set-pieces in defence, described the English team as a decent team.

Even though Capello claimed the long, hard Premier League season left many of his players drained, FIFA insisted Gerrard was ‘dynamic with good vision and technique’.

“Chelsea star Cole was ‘a competitive left-back with good technique, making forceful, attacking runs’,” said the FIFA report, adding that England’s defeat in the first knockout phase ranked alongside France and Italy going out at the group stage were ‘the major shocks of the tournament’. (ANI)