EURO 2012: Rooney warns over his impact (From Lancashire Telegraph)

EURO 2012: Rooney warns over his impact

8:59am Monday 18th June 2012 in News

Wayne Rooney prepared to make his eagerly-anticipated European Championship entrance but warned: “I’m not going to win the Euros on my own.”

Rooney has been forced to watch England’s opening two Group D games of the tournament from the sidelines while serving a suspension but manager Roy Hodgson has all but confirmed the nation’s talisman will start Tuesday’s decisive match against Ukraine.

With Rooney’s team-mates having already secured four points in his absence, expectations will be raised that the Manchester United star could lead his country to something better than a quarter-final berth.

But he said: “I don’t put that pressure on myself, to be honest.

“There are 23 players in the squad and there’s pressure on us all.

“It’s great that we’ve scored a few goals and we’ve put the points on the board.

“I’m not going to win the Euros on my own.

“There are 23 players who are going to contribute to try to help us win the tournament or go as far as we can.”

England need only a draw in Donetsk to reach the knockout stage and Rooney added: “Hopefully, I get an opportunity to play and try to shine and help us get through the group.”

Considering Rooney’s 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.

Rooney was full of praise for those players who have filled his boots in his absence – with Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll both scoring against Sweden.

“I know Danny very well and play with him at club level,” said Rooney. “And Andy has come in and done really well – and you mustn’t forget Jermain [Defoe] as well. Between us, there are four good strikers there.”

And he also England could finally fulfill their potential after so many false dawns.

“Our country needs to be winning trophies with the history of the country,” said the Manchester Unity striker.

”Hopefully, it will happen this time. We’ve got a great group of young players there.”

Comments are closed on this article.