Euro 2012: Wayne Rooney Will Be Difference Maker for England vs. Ukraine

After two games of UEFA Euro 2012 without arguably their best player, England will get a boost from the return of striker Wayne Rooney.

The Manchester United star was suspended for the first two games of the tournament for a kicking incident that occurred last year. Fortunately, his team has put themselves in good position to advance to the knockout stage.

Still, things have not gone easy for England so far. The squad secured a tough 1-1 draw against France, but then fell behind 2-1 late in the game against Sweden. It took a goal by sub Theo Walcott to even the game and a score by Danny Welbeck in the 78th minute to take the lead.

A draw would have put the team in a precarious position going forward, but now the circumstances are simple. A loss sends them home, a tie allows them to move on and a win could possibly win the group.

With Rooney, that goal seems easier to accomplish.

The relatively young team has looked tentative and sloppy at times in the first two games. Against host country Ukraine, the crowd might be a little overwhelming for those playing on the international stage for the first time. 

Rooney brings with him experience at this level, and he needs to use it to be a leader. He cannot get frustrated when things do not go his way early on, or else the rest of the team will follow suit.

However, the most important asset that Rooney brings to the table is his finishing ability. England was fortunate to get three goals against Sweden, but those opportunities might not come as easily against Ukraine.

Rooney was second in the English Premier League this season with 27 goals and added eight more outside of the league. His ability to get the ball in the back of the net is unmatched by his teammates, and it should instantly boost the offense in the upcoming game.

Even though the defense has struggled in parts of the first two games, the addition of a skilled forward will help control the ball longer and keep the pressure on Ukraine. The home team will be lucky to get more than a few scoring opportunities throughout the game.

The time to shine for England is now. The pressure is on Rooney to make up for his absence with a big game in the final match of the group stage.

If he plays to his full ability, there is no reason to believe this team will not do some damage in the quarterfinals and beyond.