SUSPENDED ... Wayne Rooney will miss England's first two Euro 2012 matches
Published: Today at 15:58
ENGLAND are better off WITHOUT Manchester United star Wayne Rooney — according to a new study.
Since Rooney made his international debut in 2003, the Three Lions have
recorded stronger results in competitive games when he has NOT
played.
England have won 75 per cent of their matches when the striker has been missing, compared to a 66 per cent win ratio when he has been involved.
The Three Lions have won 31 of the 47 games they have played with the United hitman.
But of the 12 clashes he has missed, England have fared better, winning nine and drawing two.
Rooney is suspended for England's opening two Euro 2012 matches against France and Sweden but should return to the starting XI for the clash against Ukraine on June 19.
The research — conducted by Castrol Edge — will come as a surprise to many fans concerned about the nation's chances in this summer's showpiece.
But the news will ease the pressure on the shoulders of £35million Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, who is expected to lead the line against the French and Swedes.
Castrol's study also reveals Roy Hodgson's men have the best record of any of the 16 countries involved when it comes to scoring within the opening 15 minutes of a match.
The Three Lions found the back of the net within the first quarter of an hour on six occasions during qualifying.
That figure accounted for over a third of England's overall goal tally (35 per cent).
Here, SunSport breaks down key facts from EVERY other nation involved in the finals which kick off in Poland and Ukraine on June 8.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Captain Tomas Rosicky made 251 accurate passes in the final third of the pitch during qualifying - more than any other player.
Rosicky enjoyed an impressive campaign with Arsenal last season and pulled the strings for the Czechs in midfield.
He set up a total of 31 goalscoring chances for team-mates and also provided six assists for his side.
GREECE
Avraam Papadopoulos was key to Greece’s impressive defensive displays on the road to Euro 2012.
The Schalke star put in 31 tackles, the fourth-highest total for any defender in the competition. Only Belarus' Igor Shitov (40), Austria's Christian Fuchs (35) and Belgium's Jan Vertonghen (32) produced more successful challenges.
Of the 31 tackles Papadopoulos made, he won an impressive 74 per cent of them, with only Fuchs bettering that ratio with an 89 per cent success rate.
POLAND
Robert Lewandowski's 20-goal haul was key to Borussia Dortmund’s successful defence of their Bundesliga title last season.
A genuine fox-in-the-box, the 23-year-old netted every one of those from inside the area.
He is one of three Polish internationals plying their trade at Dortmund, with defender Lukasz Piszczek and midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski also playing key roles.
Three of Lewandowski’s Bundesliga goals last season were set up by Blaszczykowski, so expect their partnership to continue this summer.
RUSSIA
Full-back Alexander Anyukov provided the joint-highest number of assists of any defender in the run up to the tournament.
The Zenit St Petersburg star’s haul of four was also the most by any Russian player on the road to Poland and Ukraine.
Anyukov’s defensive team-mate Roman Shishkin was just as eager to get forward and create, providing two assists - the joint-sixth highest total for a defender in the competition.
And it could be Russia’s creativity from the back that holds the key to how they fare at the Euros.
DENMARK
Former Charlton winger Dennis Rommedahl was the Danes' key player in the qualifying campaign.
The Brondby ace had a hand in seven of their goals, which equated to half their tally in the run up to the finals.
Rommedahl also created an impressive 25 goalscoring chances for team-mates, making him their main attacking threat.
GERMANY
Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller will be the Germans' dangermen following their exploits in qualifying.
Real Madrid playmaker Ozil created 27 chances and weighed in with seven assists as they won all 10 of their matches.
And Bayern Munich star Muller was just as fearsome, providing five assists and creating 32 chances in total as Joachim Low's side smashed 34 goals en route to the finals.
HOLLAND
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was the most prolific striker in the qualifiers, smashing 12 goals at a rate of one every 57 minutes.
The Schalke striker had the best conversion rate of any player to score five or more.
And the Dutchman notched each of them from inside the area, with all but two of them coming from close range.
PORTUGAL
Forget Cristiano Ronaldo, left-back Fabio Coentrao could be the biggest attacking outlet for the Portuguese.
Ronaldo's Real Madrid team-mate attempted the joint-second highest number of dribbles of any defender in qualifying.
Coentrao provided 12 goalscoring chances for his side, claiming two assists in the process.
And the 24-year-old's attacking instincts could be vital to Portugal’s hopes of making it out of a ‘Group of Death’ including Holland, Germany and Denmark.
CROATIA
Skipper Darijo Srna was a consistent threat from the flanks in the run-up to the Euros.
The Shakhtar Donetsk star produced a competition-high 135 crosses, a significantly larger total than any other player.
Of those 135 centres, just over 28 per cent found a team-mate — a better accuracy rate than Manchester United and Portugal ace Nani and Russia's Andrey Arshavin.
Srna provided four assists — all for headed goals — including two in the vital 3-0 play-off victory away to Turkey.
Expect the Croatian wideman to rampage up and down the flanks once again at Euro 2012.
ITALY
Gianluigi Buffon proved he is still one of the world's top goalkeepers with a series of starring displays in qualifying.
The Juventus No1 posted a competition-high 92.9 per cent saves to shots ratio.
The 34-year-old kept an impressive four clean sheets in his six appearances and shipped just one goal.
Buffon and the other three goalkeepers used by Cesare Prandelli on the road to Poland and Ukraine conceded a total of just two goals in their nine games — the lowest amount in the competition.
And getting the better of the Juventus star will be a major challenge for Italy’s opponents.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Aiden McGeady attempted and completed more dribbles than any other player as the Irish made their way to Poland and Ukraine.
The Spartak Moscow attacker was key to the Republic’s successful qualifying campaign, providing a team-high three assists.
And he will carry the hopes of the Emerald Isle on his shoulders once more this summer.
SPAIN
Fernando Llorente is set to be the man the Spanish will pin their hopes on to fill the void left by the injured David Villa.
The towering Athletic Bilbao striker scored every 78 minutes on average during qualifying.
Llorente netted three goals in his 235 minutes of action, with each one coming from inside the six-yard box, including two headers.
And his aerial threat will provide Spain another option to their tika-taka style as they bid to successfully defend the crown they won in 2008.
FRANCE
Real Madrid star Karim Benzema carries the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.
He has been France's best player since Laurent Blanc replaced Raymond Domenech as boss following their disastrous World Cup campaign two years ago.
Former Lyon star Benzema has posted higher figures than any other player for Les Bleus in terms of goals and assists since August 2010.
SWEDEN
Lyon schemer Kim Kallstrom will be a threat from long range for the Swedes.
He scored three goals and delivered a competition-high seven assists during Euro 2012 qualifying.
All 10 of the efforts Kallstrom, 29, was involved in came from outside of the area.
UKRAINE
Metalist Kharkiv’s Marko Devic scored three goals and made two assists as a substitute in the Europa League last season.
That was more than any other player involved in the entire campaign and his ability to change games when coming off the bench will be vital to Ukraine's chances of progressing to the knockout stages.
England have won 75 per cent of their matches when the striker has been missing, compared to a 66 per cent win ratio when he has been involved.
The Three Lions have won 31 of the 47 games they have played with the United hitman.
But of the 12 clashes he has missed, England have fared better, winning nine and drawing two.
Rooney is suspended for England's opening two Euro 2012 matches against France and Sweden but should return to the starting XI for the clash against Ukraine on June 19.
The research — conducted by Castrol Edge — will come as a surprise to many fans concerned about the nation's chances in this summer's showpiece.
But the news will ease the pressure on the shoulders of £35million Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, who is expected to lead the line against the French and Swedes.
Castrol's study also reveals Roy Hodgson's men have the best record of any of the 16 countries involved when it comes to scoring within the opening 15 minutes of a match.
The Three Lions found the back of the net within the first quarter of an hour on six occasions during qualifying.
That figure accounted for over a third of England's overall goal tally (35 per cent).
Here, SunSport breaks down key facts from EVERY other nation involved in the finals which kick off in Poland and Ukraine on June 8.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Captain Tomas Rosicky made 251 accurate passes in the final third of the pitch during qualifying - more than any other player.
Rosicky enjoyed an impressive campaign with Arsenal last season and pulled the strings for the Czechs in midfield.
He set up a total of 31 goalscoring chances for team-mates and also provided six assists for his side.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC ... Tomas Rosicky will lead the Czech Republic's assault on the Euros
Avraam Papadopoulos was key to Greece’s impressive defensive displays on the road to Euro 2012.
The Schalke star put in 31 tackles, the fourth-highest total for any defender in the competition. Only Belarus' Igor Shitov (40), Austria's Christian Fuchs (35) and Belgium's Jan Vertonghen (32) produced more successful challenges.
Of the 31 tackles Papadopoulos made, he won an impressive 74 per cent of them, with only Fuchs bettering that ratio with an 89 per cent success rate.
POLAND
Robert Lewandowski's 20-goal haul was key to Borussia Dortmund’s successful defence of their Bundesliga title last season.
A genuine fox-in-the-box, the 23-year-old netted every one of those from inside the area.
He is one of three Polish internationals plying their trade at Dortmund, with defender Lukasz Piszczek and midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski also playing key roles.
Three of Lewandowski’s Bundesliga goals last season were set up by Blaszczykowski, so expect their partnership to continue this summer.
RUSSIA
Full-back Alexander Anyukov provided the joint-highest number of assists of any defender in the run up to the tournament.
The Zenit St Petersburg star’s haul of four was also the most by any Russian player on the road to Poland and Ukraine.
Anyukov’s defensive team-mate Roman Shishkin was just as eager to get forward and create, providing two assists - the joint-sixth highest total for a defender in the competition.
And it could be Russia’s creativity from the back that holds the key to how they fare at the Euros.
ASSIST KING ... Alexander Anyukov will be a key man for Russia at Euro 2012
Former Charlton winger Dennis Rommedahl was the Danes' key player in the qualifying campaign.
The Brondby ace had a hand in seven of their goals, which equated to half their tally in the run up to the finals.
Rommedahl also created an impressive 25 goalscoring chances for team-mates, making him their main attacking threat.
GERMANY
Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller will be the Germans' dangermen following their exploits in qualifying.
Real Madrid playmaker Ozil created 27 chances and weighed in with seven assists as they won all 10 of their matches.
And Bayern Munich star Muller was just as fearsome, providing five assists and creating 32 chances in total as Joachim Low's side smashed 34 goals en route to the finals.
HOLLAND
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was the most prolific striker in the qualifiers, smashing 12 goals at a rate of one every 57 minutes.
The Schalke striker had the best conversion rate of any player to score five or more.
And the Dutchman notched each of them from inside the area, with all but two of them coming from close range.
ON THE HUNT ... Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will be looking to add to his Holland goal tally
Forget Cristiano Ronaldo, left-back Fabio Coentrao could be the biggest attacking outlet for the Portuguese.
Ronaldo's Real Madrid team-mate attempted the joint-second highest number of dribbles of any defender in qualifying.
Coentrao provided 12 goalscoring chances for his side, claiming two assists in the process.
And the 24-year-old's attacking instincts could be vital to Portugal’s hopes of making it out of a ‘Group of Death’ including Holland, Germany and Denmark.
CROATIA
Skipper Darijo Srna was a consistent threat from the flanks in the run-up to the Euros.
The Shakhtar Donetsk star produced a competition-high 135 crosses, a significantly larger total than any other player.
Of those 135 centres, just over 28 per cent found a team-mate — a better accuracy rate than Manchester United and Portugal ace Nani and Russia's Andrey Arshavin.
Srna provided four assists — all for headed goals — including two in the vital 3-0 play-off victory away to Turkey.
Expect the Croatian wideman to rampage up and down the flanks once again at Euro 2012.
ITALY
Gianluigi Buffon proved he is still one of the world's top goalkeepers with a series of starring displays in qualifying.
The Juventus No1 posted a competition-high 92.9 per cent saves to shots ratio.
The 34-year-old kept an impressive four clean sheets in his six appearances and shipped just one goal.
Buffon and the other three goalkeepers used by Cesare Prandelli on the road to Poland and Ukraine conceded a total of just two goals in their nine games — the lowest amount in the competition.
And getting the better of the Juventus star will be a major challenge for Italy’s opponents.
HARD TO BEAT ... Gianluigi Buffon has been in fine form between the sticks for Italy
Aiden McGeady attempted and completed more dribbles than any other player as the Irish made their way to Poland and Ukraine.
The Spartak Moscow attacker was key to the Republic’s successful qualifying campaign, providing a team-high three assists.
And he will carry the hopes of the Emerald Isle on his shoulders once more this summer.
SPAIN
Fernando Llorente is set to be the man the Spanish will pin their hopes on to fill the void left by the injured David Villa.
The towering Athletic Bilbao striker scored every 78 minutes on average during qualifying.
Llorente netted three goals in his 235 minutes of action, with each one coming from inside the six-yard box, including two headers.
And his aerial threat will provide Spain another option to their tika-taka style as they bid to successfully defend the crown they won in 2008.
FRANCE
Real Madrid star Karim Benzema carries the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.
He has been France's best player since Laurent Blanc replaced Raymond Domenech as boss following their disastrous World Cup campaign two years ago.
Former Lyon star Benzema has posted higher figures than any other player for Les Bleus in terms of goals and assists since August 2010.
FRENCH FANCY ... Karim Benzema will lead the line for Les Bleus
Lyon schemer Kim Kallstrom will be a threat from long range for the Swedes.
He scored three goals and delivered a competition-high seven assists during Euro 2012 qualifying.
All 10 of the efforts Kallstrom, 29, was involved in came from outside of the area.
UKRAINE
Metalist Kharkiv’s Marko Devic scored three goals and made two assists as a substitute in the Europa League last season.
That was more than any other player involved in the entire campaign and his ability to change games when coming off the bench will be vital to Ukraine's chances of progressing to the knockout stages.
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