Wayne Rooney at 100 caps: Best and worst England moments

Sport360 staff 22:16 14/11/2014
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  • Landmark: Wayne Rooney will celebrate reaching 100 England caps this week.

    Ahead of his 100th cap, Wayne Rooney discussed his 11-year international career at a press briefing at St George’s Park.

    Here are the highlights.

    BEST MOMENT: Euro 2004

    “It was such a great experience for me to go there at such a young age and start all the games and score four goals. That has probably been the high.”

    WORST MOMENT: Being sent off in the 2006 World Cup

    “The low was definitely the red card against Portugal in the quarter-finals. I still believe to this day that if I had stayed on we would have won the game.”

    FUNNIEST MOMENT: During some down-time in the 2010 World Cup

    “One of the masseurs arranged a game of Deal Or No Deal. He put all the names in the hat. The worst name he could have drawn out was David James – and that was the name he pulled out. The masseur had put a lot of work into it, getting it all set up, and then at the first offer, he dealt and completely ruined the game.”

    BIGGEST REGRET: Criticising England fans after the 0-0 draw against Algeria

    “When things aren’t going right on the pitch, it’s frustrating because we know we can do better. Sometimes it boils over, the frustration, and that’s what happened then. It’s certainly something I regret.”

    TOP THREE GOALS: (In no particular order)

    – Macedonia 1 England 2 (European Championship qualifier) September 6, 2003

    “My first England goal. It was a great moment although the ‘keeper should have saved it. I don’t know what he was doing.”

    – England 3 Switzerland 0 (European Championship) June 17, 2004

    “Competitive goals mean more to me. It was my first tournament goal – a header.”

    – England 4 Croatia 2 (European Championship) June 21, 2004

    “I played the one-two with Michael Owen and went through. I really enjoyed that goal.”

    BEST ENGLAND MANAGERS: Roy Hodgson and Sven-Goran Eriksson

    “Over the two years Roy has been manager my goalscoring record is probably the best it has been at any time in my England career.

    “I thought Sven was great. He really trusted his players and wanted us to play with a freedom. Those two times I enjoyed. It was more difficult under Steve McClaren in terms of the team just not doing well and under (Fabio) Capello it was quite a tough time.”

    BIGGEST INFLUENCE: Steven Gerrard

    “It’s well-known that the two of us have been close and he’s been a massive help to me. I watched how he prepared himself, how he was around the hotel and in the media. I took a lot from him.”

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