What do journalists know about football?

True, a lot of the media tries to blow many players, teams, nation out of proportions, as you said, which in the end only sets up all the fans for disappointment. Rooney is a really good player, maybe not on the same level of Messi or Ronaldo, but he is pretty high up. However, the problem is the amount of pressure the media puts on you before you actually do anything. I remember the hype before the 2006 world cup where all England was saying, we can win the world cup because we have Rooney, the guy was only 21 years old and all England thought he could carry the entire team, England was eliminated and everyone went against Rooney. I think that is the biggest problem with England, they get one outstanding player and they apply all the pressure on him that he can carry the entire team to glory. Happened with Beckham, Michael Owen, then Rooney. There will be more in the future.