Rooney reaffirms World Cup boost
Wayne Rooney insists England can lift the World Cup next summer.
Rooney’s return from suspension helped Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men turn in a much-improved display against Poland at Old Trafford last night.
The 2-1 win allowed England to end the visitors’ seven-match winning streak, finish top of Group Six and enhance their chances of a favourable seeding in December’s draw.
It was the perfect way to silence the critics who virtually ignored the fact England sealed their place in next year’s Finals in Germany at the weekend.
And only firmed up Rooney’s belief this side are capable of emulating Sir Alf Ramsey’s historic 1966 heroes.
“I have said many times before we have a squad good enough to win it and nothing has changed,” he said.
“Hopefully we get a good draw and go on to win it.
“We have had a lot of criticism over the last few months, some of it deserved, some of it not.
“But we have done well to bounce back and finish top and hopefully we can carry on that form over the next few games.”
Although Rooney was far too hot for Poland to handle, the teenager was forced to take a back seat in the goalscoring stakes as Michael Owen put England ahead before Frank Lampard sealed victory with an acrobatic strike 10 minutes from time.
On the Old Trafford pitch where Rooney has scored so many sensational goals himself, it was an effort to savour and one even the precocious 19-year-old admitted he wished belonged to his own portfolio.
“I would have been proud of that one,” he said.
“Frank has scored some brilliant goals for Chelsea and that was another fantastic one.”
The single-goal margin of victory may have been the same, but like the vast majority of a capacity crowd, Rooney accepted England’s performance was far better than the one they turned in against Austria at the weekend when he was sat in the stands.
From the first whistle, England looked to impose themselves on opponents whose place at the Finals was already secure and the fervour was enhanced by the enthusiastic home support.
“The atmosphere was brilliant and it allowed us to take the game by the scruff of the neck,” he said.
“We deserved to be in front at half-time but obviously didn’t manage it.
“It was a blow to concede so close to the break but we were always confident we could pick ourselves up and get a winner. Thankfully, Frank did it at the end.”
