Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was slammed by pundits for his failure to score for England in the second-half of defeat to Italy. Rooney was shooting wide from an excellent position shortly after England had slipped 2-1 down that drew a lot of ire, and he has now not scored in nine World Cup finals appearances.
Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer told BBC1: "It was that lack of quality in the final third that was our downfall. Rooney had his big chance and he failed to take it and, at this level in the World Cup, you only get one chance in the game and you have to score.
"Mario Balotelli got one chance for Italy, and scored the winner. Rooney has still not scored at a World Cup finals and he might not get a better chance than that."
Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry echoed Shearer's sentiments, adding: "The result comes down to that Wayne Rooney miss and Mario Balotelli taking his chance from a great cross into the box.
"There is a debate about whether England should play Rooney out on the left like they did but, when you look at that chance he missed, he is central, and in the best position that he can be.
"I have missed chances like that, but Wayne will know that in a game like this one, he has to score there. He didn't, and that was the turning point for me."
