Reborn Manchester United man Wayne Rooney all fired up
Wayne Rooney will return to action against Ukraine A new, mature Wayne Rooney says he is primed to help fire England into the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.
It will be a new-look Manchester United superstar who steps straight into Roy Hodgsons side forTuesday nights Group D decider against co-hosts Ukraine.
And thats not just because of the 26-year-olds remodelled hair style.
Though he had to sit out Englands first two group matches as a result of the red card he picked up in Englands final qualifier in Montenegro last October, it will be an older and wiser Rooney who enters the big stage in Donetsk.
Fatherhood, along with an added responsibility with United, has brought maturity to Rooneys life on and off the pitch with the striker picking up just one yellow card for club and country since Octobers moment of madness.
As further evidence of the way Rooney has grown up, Hodgson has revealed he was in line to become Englands new vice-captain
And though the Reds ace has a chequered disciplinary record down the years and was famously red-carded at the 2006 World Cup, he insists he is ready to channel his agression in the right way.
Speaking appropriately enough on Fathers Day, Roo said he had learned from his mistakes of the past.
What happened [in Montenegro] was a mistake. I understood that and apologised to the guy, said Rooney.
Ive paid the price. Ive had to take it. And I have no problems with my attitude or my temperament. Im happy and Im ready to play.
Rooney revealed he feared his suspension which was originally three matches before an FA appeal reduced it to two would cost him his place in Englands Euro 2012 squad.
Of course, he said. Certainly, when it was a three-game ban, I thought I probab! ly would nt be here.
Tomorrows match will effectively be an away game for England and, with their opponents needing to win to avoid an early exit, the heat will be on.
Itll be a big challenge, Rooney added.
Theyll obviously have the majority of the support and fans in the stadium.
Weve been in this situation before. Weve been to a lot of stadiums around Europe and around the world, and weve had to deal with this atmosphere on a lot of occasions.
If you look at Turkey away nine or 10 years ago, it was as hostile as youre going to get.
So we understand theres going to be a big atmosphere and its something we have to deal with.
Were big enough and experienced enough to deal with it.
Much has been made of the significance of the return of Englands talisman to the fray not least from head coach Hodgson.
As one of the few genuine superstars in the England squad, responsibility will weigh heavily on his shoulders.
With Rooneys team-mates having already secured four points in his absence, expectations will be raised that he could lead his country to something better than a quarter-final berth.
But the United star warned his team-mates and an expectant nation he wont be able to lead England to glory alone.
Im not going to win the Euros on my own, Rooney declared.
I dont put that pressure on myself, to be honest. There are 23 players in the squad and theres pressure on us all.
Its great that weve scored a few goals and weve put the points on the board.
There are 23 players who are going to contribute to try to help us win the tournament.
Considering Rooneys record in tournaments since he took Euro 2004 by storm as a rookie teenager, the 26-year-old actually has a lot to prove on the biggest stage.
Despite having not played 90 minutes for more than a month, he confirmed he was fully fit, and he insisted he remained bullish about Englands chan! ces of s uccess.
I think England are a massive football team, a massive football nation, he said.
Not just over the last four tournaments but maybe over the last 30-odd years, we havent fulfilled that potential.
Ive said it before. I think were good enough.
I know no-one wants to build up expectations but I firmly believe that weve got the players.
Rooney was part of Englands World Cup debacle two years ago and he suggested Hodgson had made changes for the better, admitting it was a happier, more relaxed camp than under Italian manager Fabio Capello in South Africa.
He added: I think that it helps being English. There are no words lost in translation.
The manager trusts his players, which is obviously a big help to the players.
Under the other managers, there was an element of trust there.
Roys given us a lot of rest time as well and a lot of down time, and we understand what he wants from us.
What Hodgson really wants is for England to avoid the same fate as Russia, Dick Advocaats men crashing out despite winning their first game 4-1.
Like the Russians, England need only a point and Rooney said: If we have to take a point then well happily do that.
But were going into the game to get the three points.
Is Rooney a more mature player now? Have your say.
Tweet
It will be a new-look Manchester United superstar who steps straight into Roy Hodgsons side forTuesday nights Group D decider against co-hosts Ukraine.
And thats not just because of the 26-year-olds remodelled hair style.
Though he had to sit out Englands first two group matches as a result of the red card he picked up in Englands final qualifier in Montenegro last October, it will be an older and wiser Rooney who enters the big stage in Donetsk.
Fatherhood, along with an added responsibility with United, has brought maturity to Rooneys life on and off the pitch with the striker picking up just one yellow card for club and country since Octobers moment of madness.
As further evidence of the way Rooney has grown up, Hodgson has revealed he was in line to become Englands new vice-captain
And though the Reds ace has a chequered disciplinary record down the years and was famously red-carded at the 2006 World Cup, he insists he is ready to channel his agression in the right way.
Speaking appropriately enough on Fathers Day, Roo said he had learned from his mistakes of the past.
What happened [in Montenegro] was a mistake. I understood that and apologised to the guy, said Rooney.
Ive paid the price. Ive had to take it. And I have no problems with my attitude or my temperament. Im happy and Im ready to play.
Rooney revealed he feared his suspension which was originally three matches before an FA appeal reduced it to two would cost him his place in Englands Euro 2012 squad.
Of course, he said. Certainly, when it was a three-game ban, I thought I probab! ly would nt be here.
Tomorrows match will effectively be an away game for England and, with their opponents needing to win to avoid an early exit, the heat will be on.
Itll be a big challenge, Rooney added.
Theyll obviously have the majority of the support and fans in the stadium.
Weve been in this situation before. Weve been to a lot of stadiums around Europe and around the world, and weve had to deal with this atmosphere on a lot of occasions.
If you look at Turkey away nine or 10 years ago, it was as hostile as youre going to get.
So we understand theres going to be a big atmosphere and its something we have to deal with.
Were big enough and experienced enough to deal with it.
Much has been made of the significance of the return of Englands talisman to the fray not least from head coach Hodgson.
As one of the few genuine superstars in the England squad, responsibility will weigh heavily on his shoulders.
With Rooneys team-mates having already secured four points in his absence, expectations will be raised that he could lead his country to something better than a quarter-final berth.
But the United star warned his team-mates and an expectant nation he wont be able to lead England to glory alone.
Im not going to win the Euros on my own, Rooney declared.
I dont put that pressure on myself, to be honest. There are 23 players in the squad and theres pressure on us all.
Its great that weve scored a few goals and weve put the points on the board.
There are 23 players who are going to contribute to try to help us win the tournament.
Considering Rooneys record in tournaments since he took Euro 2004 by storm as a rookie teenager, the 26-year-old actually has a lot to prove on the biggest stage.
Despite having not played 90 minutes for more than a month, he confirmed he was fully fit, and he insisted he remained bullish about Englands chan! ces of s uccess.
I think England are a massive football team, a massive football nation, he said.
Not just over the last four tournaments but maybe over the last 30-odd years, we havent fulfilled that potential.
Ive said it before. I think were good enough.
I know no-one wants to build up expectations but I firmly believe that weve got the players.
Rooney was part of Englands World Cup debacle two years ago and he suggested Hodgson had made changes for the better, admitting it was a happier, more relaxed camp than under Italian manager Fabio Capello in South Africa.
He added: I think that it helps being English. There are no words lost in translation.
The manager trusts his players, which is obviously a big help to the players.
Under the other managers, there was an element of trust there.
Roys given us a lot of rest time as well and a lot of down time, and we understand what he wants from us.
What Hodgson really wants is for England to avoid the same fate as Russia, Dick Advocaats men crashing out despite winning their first game 4-1.
Like the Russians, England need only a point and Rooney said: If we have to take a point then well happily do that.
But were going into the game to get the three points.
Is Rooney a more mature player now? Have your say.
Tweet
Comments
Post a Comment