SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Wayne Rooney looks forward to England's match against Algeria

Record ID: 453942

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Wayne Rooney looks forward to England's match against Algeria
  • Date: 17th June 2010
  • Summary: PHOKENG, NEAR RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 16, 2010) (REUTERS) ENGLAND STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY ENTERS NEWS CONFERENCE AND SITS/PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY SAYS: "The game against the USA started really well, I think overall we deserved to win the game but unfortunately we didn't. I am looking forward to the game on Friday and I am sure we will take three points." ENGLAND LOGO BESIDE STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY SAYS: "We caused problems for the U.S. defence. We created chances for the team and that was important for us. And I think if the manager picks the two of us for Friday then I am sure we will cause problems for the Algerian defence". ENGLAND LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY SAYS: "For us to do well I need to play a bit better than I did and score goals but you know I don't feel pressure as well as the team are doing well and if we can win the next two games I will be happy." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY SAYS: "You know we are starting to get used to it after about three weeks, so yeah I can imagine it must be a nightmare for the goalkeepers but for the forward players when you need to get your shot off it's obviously an advantage I feel." CAMERA OPERATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY SAYS: "I think Germany looked good, I was impressed by the Ivory Coast discipline yesterday against Portugal. Yeah I don't think there has been a stand-out team bar Germany really so it's been a close tournament, all the games have been close." ROONEY LEAVES NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6K0ZO9IX7UXNESNKCJTG8IEK9
  • Story Text: Wayne Rooney says England deserved to win against USA and is sure of win against Algeria.
    England striker Wayne Rooney said on Wednesday (June 16) that he thought his team had deserved to win against the United States in their first game and he had high hopes for a win against Algeria in their second.
    Speaking at the team's training ground near Rustenburg before flying to Cape Town for the Algeria game, Rooney suggested all was well, despite criticism of England's opening 1-1 draw by fans on the day.
    "The game against the USA started really well," he said. "I think overall we deserved to win the game but unfortunately we didn't. I am looking forward to the game on Friday and I am sure we will take three points."
    A partnership with captain Steven Gerrard produced one goal but no more at the opening game at the Royal Bafokeng stadium.
    "We caused problems for the U.S. defence. We created chances for the team and that was important for us. And I think if the manager picks the two of us for Friday then I am sure we will cause problems for the Algerian defence," Rooney said.
    Rooney has had a very successful season for Manchester United but for England the goals seem to have eluded him, his last coming in a 5-1 win over Croatia last September. Rooney said he did not feel under pressure to produce goals.
    "For us to do well I need to play a bit better than I did and score goals but you know I don't feel pressure as well as the team are doing well and if we can win the next two games I will be happy," he said.
    As to the Jabulani ball being used in the tournament, Rooney said he thought the goalkeepers were having the worst of it but the forwards were getting used to its flight and could actually use its behavour to advantage.
    "We are starting to get used to it after about three weeks, so yeah I can imagine it must be a nightmare for the goalkeepers but for the forward players when you need to get your shot off it's obviously an advantage I feel."
    Lastly Rooney said that Germany and Ivory Coast had caught his eye this tournament.
    "I think Germany looked good, I was impressed by the Ivory Coast discipline yesterday against Portugal. Yeah I don't think there has been a stand-out team bar Germany really so it's been a close tournament, all the games have been close."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register