Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe partnership pleases Fabio Capello - Football - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe partnership pleases Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello believes Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe are developing the perfect on-field partnership.

The pair will lead England's attacking force in tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland in Basle after Rooney declared himself in the right frame of mind to play.

Capello greeted the news with glee, having seen how well Rooney adapted to a new deeper-lying role in Friday's victory over Bulgaria at Wembley.

The Manchester United star may now be on a run of 11 international games without a goal. But he provided three assists in the four-goal triumph and made a major contribution to Defoe's opener.

It rather dumps the theory that Defoe and Rooney are too similar to play alongside each other, with Capello believing there is more to come.

"Sometimes over the course of a season it is like players have a chemical moment. I can see that in them now," said the Italian.

"Against Bulgaria, Defoe's movement was fantastic and Rooney's passing was fantastic."

"Rooney has played in a lot of different positions, left wing in the Champions League, as a lone centre-forward and in midfield.

"On Friday I asked him to play just in front of their two central defenders.

"He had a lot of possession, was free to move around the pitch and was really good with the ball at his feet.

"He is so technically strong his passing was excellent."

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