Rooney sees nothing to fear for England
Thursday, 17 June 2010
RUSTENBURG, June 16 (AFP): Wayne Rooney has put the boot into England's World Cup critics and insisted he has seen nothing in South Africa that Fabio Capello's squad need fear.
"At the minute I've not seen anyone we should be afraid of," Rooney told reporters at England's training camp on Wednesday.
"To be honest all the games I've watched so far have not been that exciting. I hope they get more exciting."
Rooney did concede that he had been impressed by Germany's 4-0 demolition of Australia but he was scathing about Franz Beckenbauer's dismissal of England's performance in a 1-1 draw with the United States as a step back to the dark ages of "kick and rush" football.
"That is his opinion and he is entitled to it," Rooney said. "But we don't listen to what he has to say. We certainly don't play kick and rush and we don't take any notice of his comments."
Rooney also rejected suggestions emanating from the American camp that England had been paralysed by fear in their opening match.
"What did they have? Two or three shots on goal from distance and one good chance? I don't think there was any fear for them. We didn't get the win but we took the game to them and certainly didn't play with fear.
"We started the game really well and overall I think we deserved to win. Unfortunately we didn't but now we look forward to the second game on Friday (against Algeria) and I'm sure we will take three points.
"We wanted a win but a draw was not the worst result and it gives us something to move on from."
Rooney plundered 33 goals for Manchester United in the just-finished season, most of them in matches in which he was deployed as a lone striker with two wingers operating on the flanks.
Against the United States, Rooney was partnered with Emile Heskey and, as his frustration grew during the match, was seen foraging deeper and deeper in search of possession.
Inevitably, there has been speculation that Rooney would prefer to be played in the role in which he has just enjoyed his best season at club level, but he would not be drawn on the issue.
"I thought Emile and I caused problems to the US defence. We created chances for the team and that was important. If we're picked again I'm sure we will cause problems for the Algeria defence," he said.
Having failed to find the net in Germany four years ago, where he was less than fully fit following an accelerated rehabilitation from a broken metatarsal bone, Rooney is still waiting for his first World Cup goal.
But he denied feeling any pressure to break his duck on football's biggest stage.
"Not at all," he said. "We've got players in the team who can score goals. For us to do well, I need to play better than I did and to score goals.
"But I don't feel under extra pressure. If we win the next two games I'll be happy. I'm not worried. If I don't score in the next game I'll just keep working until I do."
Rooney's preparation for this tournament was hampered by the after effects of an injury he suffered in a match against Bayern Munich which resulted in Manchester United going out of the Champions League.
He now claims to be back in the kind of shape he was in during a mid-season purple patch with the only problem he has encountered in South Africa getting used to the new balls being used in the tournament.
"We're getting used to the ball, finally," he said. "It's a nightmare for goalkeepers, but it's an advantage for forwards to get the shots off."
"At the minute I've not seen anyone we should be afraid of," Rooney told reporters at England's training camp on Wednesday.
"To be honest all the games I've watched so far have not been that exciting. I hope they get more exciting."
Rooney did concede that he had been impressed by Germany's 4-0 demolition of Australia but he was scathing about Franz Beckenbauer's dismissal of England's performance in a 1-1 draw with the United States as a step back to the dark ages of "kick and rush" football.
"That is his opinion and he is entitled to it," Rooney said. "But we don't listen to what he has to say. We certainly don't play kick and rush and we don't take any notice of his comments."
Rooney also rejected suggestions emanating from the American camp that England had been paralysed by fear in their opening match.
"What did they have? Two or three shots on goal from distance and one good chance? I don't think there was any fear for them. We didn't get the win but we took the game to them and certainly didn't play with fear.
"We started the game really well and overall I think we deserved to win. Unfortunately we didn't but now we look forward to the second game on Friday (against Algeria) and I'm sure we will take three points.
"We wanted a win but a draw was not the worst result and it gives us something to move on from."
Rooney plundered 33 goals for Manchester United in the just-finished season, most of them in matches in which he was deployed as a lone striker with two wingers operating on the flanks.
Against the United States, Rooney was partnered with Emile Heskey and, as his frustration grew during the match, was seen foraging deeper and deeper in search of possession.
Inevitably, there has been speculation that Rooney would prefer to be played in the role in which he has just enjoyed his best season at club level, but he would not be drawn on the issue.
"I thought Emile and I caused problems to the US defence. We created chances for the team and that was important. If we're picked again I'm sure we will cause problems for the Algeria defence," he said.
Having failed to find the net in Germany four years ago, where he was less than fully fit following an accelerated rehabilitation from a broken metatarsal bone, Rooney is still waiting for his first World Cup goal.
But he denied feeling any pressure to break his duck on football's biggest stage.
"Not at all," he said. "We've got players in the team who can score goals. For us to do well, I need to play better than I did and to score goals.
"But I don't feel under extra pressure. If we win the next two games I'll be happy. I'm not worried. If I don't score in the next game I'll just keep working until I do."
Rooney's preparation for this tournament was hampered by the after effects of an injury he suffered in a match against Bayern Munich which resulted in Manchester United going out of the Champions League.
He now claims to be back in the kind of shape he was in during a mid-season purple patch with the only problem he has encountered in South Africa getting used to the new balls being used in the tournament.
"We're getting used to the ball, finally," he said. "It's a nightmare for goalkeepers, but it's an advantage for forwards to get the shots off."