ENGLAND striker Wayne Rooney says there will be no excuses if he fails to deliver for his country at the 2014 World Cup.
Rooney broke through on the international stage at the 2004
European championship as an 18-year-old when his performances earned him
a place in the team of the tournament but his subsequent displays at
major competitions have been undermined by injuries.
The
Manchester United forward was rushed back from a metatarsal injury in
time for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he was sent off in
England’s quarter-final loss to Portugal, while his preparations for the
tournament in South Africa were hampered by an ankle problem.
However,
the 28-year-old insists he has fully recovered from a groin injury that
caused him to miss the final three games of the Premier League season.
“I have no issues whatsoever and I am ready for this tournament,”
Rooney told British media at England’s pre-World Cup training camp in
the Algarve on Thursday.
“I am going to give everything and leave everything on the pitch.
“I’ve been here before and I’ve said what I feel I can deliver and what I can do and it hasn’t happened.
“I
think this is the one where I have to show what I can do. I believe I
am in the best possible shape and the best condition I can be in to do
that.”
Rooney, who has yet to score at a World Cup, believes the
finals in Brazil represent his best chance to belatedly leave his mark
on the world stage.
“For me personally, I feel the World Cup in
2018, I’ll be a bit older then so it will obviously be difficult to
impact that the way I believe I can do.
“So, I feel this is the
really last big one that I feel will probably get the best out of me. I
feel ready, fresh and as good as I can do to go into this tournament.
“There will be no excuses this time if I don’t perform.”
Rooney
and his teammates will start their campaign against Italy on June 14
before further Group D clashes with Uruguay and Costa Rica.
The striker believes the blend of youth and experience in Roy Hodgson’s side will serve England well.
“I believe we can go far. I believe we’ve got the players and our aim is to win the tournament.
“We don’t want to be going there saying we would be happy getting to a quarter-final or even a semi-final.”
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