Rooney vows to make up for Eng woes
12 Oct 2012 8:44 AM IST
Wayne Rooney admits he is desperate to make amends for years of under-achievement with England after being named as captain for Friday's World Cup qualifier against San Marino. Rooney will lead England out at Wembley in the absence of suspended regular skipper Steven Gerrard and injured vice-captain Frank Lampard, and the Manchester United striker would love to celebrate the occasion with a rare inspired display for his country.
Since bursting onto the international scene with a series of dazzling performances at Euro 2004, Rooney has struggled to replicate his superb club form on England duty. He has scored 29 times for England, but major tournaments have ended in disappointment far too often.
‘Am I unfulfilled at international level? That is fair. I haven't been at my best for England and that is something I'm desperate to put right. I think us as a team and as a country, we need to be more successful and better in tournament football. At club level I've won nine trophies and the only thing missing is being successful and to win things with England. That is what we are aiming to do. There are new coaching staff and a lot of young players have come into the squad and the future is bright for us,’ said Rooney.
Rooney admits it didn't help that he struggled to cope with the pressures of life in the public eye after first becoming an England regular. But he has gradually got used to increased scrutiny that inevitably follows the country's top players.
‘From my point of view, the first few years were the hardest to live up in terms of expectations. The first few years are the most difficult part to adjust your life. Now I'm not too concerned about it. I don't go out, I go to a restaurant with my wife and family and keep myself to myself,’ he added.
SPAIN CLASH WITH BELARUS
Champions Spain may deploy a converted midfielder alongside central defender Sergio Ramos in Friday’s World Cup Group I qualifier in Belarus, coach Vicente Del Bosque said on Thursday. With Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique sidelined by injury, Del Bosque has only one other recognised centre back in the squad in Raul Albiol but he has barely featured for his club Real Madrid in recent months.
The other option is to use midfielders Sergio Busquets or Javi Martinez who both have experience in central defence, particularly Martinez who mostly played there last season at Athletic Bilbao before reverting to midfield for his new club Bayern Munich. ‘It could be there will be players who play a different role from the one at their club and that they play out of their ideal position,’ Del Bosque told a news conference in Minsk when asked where Busquets might play.
Spain won their opening game 1-0 in Georgia, extending their winning streak in European Championship and World Cup qualifiers to 23 matches. They last failed to win a qualifier in a 1-1 draw with Iceland in Reykjavik in September 2007. Spain went on to become the first team to win back-to-back European Championships with a World Cup in between and will be firm favourites to retain their global title in Brazil in 2014.
Since bursting onto the international scene with a series of dazzling performances at Euro 2004, Rooney has struggled to replicate his superb club form on England duty. He has scored 29 times for England, but major tournaments have ended in disappointment far too often.
‘Am I unfulfilled at international level? That is fair. I haven't been at my best for England and that is something I'm desperate to put right. I think us as a team and as a country, we need to be more successful and better in tournament football. At club level I've won nine trophies and the only thing missing is being successful and to win things with England. That is what we are aiming to do. There are new coaching staff and a lot of young players have come into the squad and the future is bright for us,’ said Rooney.
Rooney admits it didn't help that he struggled to cope with the pressures of life in the public eye after first becoming an England regular. But he has gradually got used to increased scrutiny that inevitably follows the country's top players.
‘From my point of view, the first few years were the hardest to live up in terms of expectations. The first few years are the most difficult part to adjust your life. Now I'm not too concerned about it. I don't go out, I go to a restaurant with my wife and family and keep myself to myself,’ he added.
SPAIN CLASH WITH BELARUS
Champions Spain may deploy a converted midfielder alongside central defender Sergio Ramos in Friday’s World Cup Group I qualifier in Belarus, coach Vicente Del Bosque said on Thursday. With Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique sidelined by injury, Del Bosque has only one other recognised centre back in the squad in Raul Albiol but he has barely featured for his club Real Madrid in recent months.
The other option is to use midfielders Sergio Busquets or Javi Martinez who both have experience in central defence, particularly Martinez who mostly played there last season at Athletic Bilbao before reverting to midfield for his new club Bayern Munich. ‘It could be there will be players who play a different role from the one at their club and that they play out of their ideal position,’ Del Bosque told a news conference in Minsk when asked where Busquets might play.
Spain won their opening game 1-0 in Georgia, extending their winning streak in European Championship and World Cup qualifiers to 23 matches. They last failed to win a qualifier in a 1-1 draw with Iceland in Reykjavik in September 2007. Spain went on to become the first team to win back-to-back European Championships with a World Cup in between and will be firm favourites to retain their global title in Brazil in 2014.
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