Anything Neymar can do, Rooney can do better...

They are among the stars of the FIFA generation, with their tricks and skills, but Neymar and Wayne Rooney seem to be going in separate directions. As Rooney returns to Manchester with  his future uncertain, Neymar will fly to Barcelona for his medical on Monday following a multi-million transfer. But Rooney was the striker who scored at the Maracana on Sunday night, while Neymar went home empty handed. They both wore the iconic No 10 shirt in the re-opened Maracana. For Brazil it was the shirt of Pele and Zico… for England it was the shirt of Gary Lineker, Sir Trevor Brooking, Sir Geoff Hurst…and John Barnes in the Maracana in 1984. This is how they fared… Neymar, as would be expected, had more of the ball in the early exchanges, including one free kick that was easily saved by Joe Hart. The Brazilians of Socrates and Roberto Carlos might have done better from 25 yards. Neymar, the new star, could be seen coming off the front and dropping deep to collect the ball - a striker and a playmaker rolled into one. We used to think the same about Rooney. When Theo Walcott burst forward after 17 minutes, a sloppy exchange pass from Rooney ended that advance and Brazil went back to their rhythmic passing. One team in red, one team in yellow and an orange ball. Neymar might have scored after 18 minutes when sloppy defending by Glen Johnson saw him one-on-one against Manchester City keeper Hart, but the goalkeeper made himself big and blocked the shot. After his poor display at Wembley earlier this season, Neymar looked determined to put on a show. After 21 minutes, he created space on the edge of the England box, but sent a wicked, dipping shot wide of the far post. A long diagonal pass by James Milner, gave Rooney a chance to show he still has the pace. He tried to outmuscle Chelsea defender David Luiz and forced a corner, which was wasted by England. Luiz was in the way again when Rooney and Walcott linked to counter, but the shot was blocked by the Chelsea man. Luiz, in fact, seemed to be enjoying his battle with Rooney and looked to be coming out on top. Neymar showed he is prepared to put the hard graft in too as he chased back (and fouled) Michael Carrick, who was awarded a free kick. Rooney had little support, apart from the occasional bursts from Walcott to join him in the attacking third. He must have wondered what it must be like to play in the Brazilian team with creativity and support. Half time 0-0 and Neymar clearly the better of the two No 10’s. Neymar: 8 (out of 10). Rooney: 5. England started the second half with more purpose, but poor passing options were taken by Walcott and Milner, which again frustrated Rooney. After a reasonable opening, England went back to sloppy passing and a dipping Neymar corner required some urgent defending. It was Fred, Neymar’s attacking sidekick who scored - just as he had done at Wembley. He was playing with a cracked rib and broke England’s resistance. A James Milner cross was just too high for Rooney and England began to look tired and wide open.Neymar was penalised for a foul on England sub Ashley Cole but they were all friends as they hugged. Rooney should have equalised after 64 minutes with a header - a free header - from a corner. But he failed to make the correct contact and the ball drifted wide. When you are up against it and chances are few and far between, world class strikers finish chances like that. England were level in the 66th minute with the sort of goal Rooney used to score, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drilling the shot home from outside the box. With the game becoming more strung out, Rooney has a shot charged down while Neymar seems to have gone off the boil. And then England breakaway and Cole’s run takes the defender away and Rooney bends a sensational shot into the top corner that took a slight deflection. But it was the Rooney of old - direct running, a stunning finish and a goal that said: ‘Come and get me’ to Europe’s big clubs. Or maybe Manchester United might not want to sell him after all. Full time 2-2 and Rooney strikes back in the battle of the No 10’s. Neymar: 7 (out of 10). Rooney 8. Well, goals change games and can change verdicts too.