Wayne Rooney promises red card redemption
Friday, 18 June 2010
RUSTENBURG, June 17 (AFP): Wayne Rooney has vowed to achieve redemption for his red card exit from the last World Cup by firing England into the knockout stages of this tournament.
The Manchester United striker failed to do himself justice in Germany, where he was not fully match fit following an accelerated pre-tournament rehabilitation from a broken metatarsal bone.
Having failed to score in four appearances, Rooney departed the tournament in disgrace, his frustration over his own and England's under-performance culminating in a stamp on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in a quarter-final England were to lose on penalties.
This time, Rooney insists he is firing on all cylinders, despite some end-of-season niggles, and ready to deliver the goals England require to put their campaign back on track following a 1-1 draw with the United States in their Group C opener.
Rooney, 24, is confident England will beat their other group opponents, Algeria, whom they face in Cape Town on Friday night, and Slovenia, and is also bullish about his own chance to be one of the tournament's major stars.
The Manchester United striker failed to do himself justice in Germany, where he was not fully match fit following an accelerated pre-tournament rehabilitation from a broken metatarsal bone.
Having failed to score in four appearances, Rooney departed the tournament in disgrace, his frustration over his own and England's under-performance culminating in a stamp on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in a quarter-final England were to lose on penalties.
This time, Rooney insists he is firing on all cylinders, despite some end-of-season niggles, and ready to deliver the goals England require to put their campaign back on track following a 1-1 draw with the United States in their Group C opener.
Rooney, 24, is confident England will beat their other group opponents, Algeria, whom they face in Cape Town on Friday night, and Slovenia, and is also bullish about his own chance to be one of the tournament's major stars.