MUFC
21-06-2006, 09:58 AM
Wayne Rooney insists he could have played longer for England but was relieved to be back in the starting line-up against Sweden.
Rooney made it through 69 minutes of Tuesday night's 2-2 draw on his first start after a broken foot.
One point was enough for England to clinch top spot in Group B and set up a first-ever international with Ecuador in the second round on Sunday in Stuttgart.
England were rocked by an injury to Michael Owen in the first minute, though.
Owen was due to have a scan in Baden-Baden on Wednesday amid fears that he has serious ligament damage.
Sven-Goran Eriksson admits the Newcastle striker's World Cup may be over but Rooney's verdict was much more promising as England head into the knock-out rounds.
Rooney, 20, said: "My fitness has never been a problem. I feel really good. I felt I could have played longer.
"It was nice to get back out there playing again. I think we did well in the first half but the tempo dropped a lot in the second.
"Not getting a goal is not a problem. That will come. We are just happy that we came out of it as group winners."
Rooney, starting his first game for more than seven weeks, seemed to be running out of steam but was not happy when he was replaced by Steven Gerrard.
He kicked a water-bottle as he came off, punched the roof of the Perspex dugout and then slung his boots away as he threw himself down on the bench.
Eriksson said: "I asked him why he did it and he said he was disappointed with himself because he thought he should have played better in the second half. It's not a problem at all.
"He could have played longer but it was his first game from the start. I couldn't risk overworking him. He will be better and better."
Rooney's fitness becomes even more crucial if Owen has to be sent home after his scan today.
Eriksson will be left with only three recognised strikers - and one of them is 17-year-old Theo Walcott who has only 25 minutes of international experience and has never played in the Premiership.
The decision of the England boss to leave Jermain Defoe behind at the expense of an extra midfielder looks set to haunt him.
It is Owen's injury, however, which comes as the biggest blow to England's hopes of winning the World Cup.
The Newcastle striker has 36 goals in his international career and has always been the man to rely upon on the big occasion.
Rooney said: "Losing Michael is a real blow to us. He is a very important player and you always know he will get you a goal.
"It's a big, big blow to have him injured. Hopefully the scan will be okay. We have our fingers crossed."
Rooney made it through 69 minutes of Tuesday night's 2-2 draw on his first start after a broken foot.
One point was enough for England to clinch top spot in Group B and set up a first-ever international with Ecuador in the second round on Sunday in Stuttgart.
England were rocked by an injury to Michael Owen in the first minute, though.
Owen was due to have a scan in Baden-Baden on Wednesday amid fears that he has serious ligament damage.
Sven-Goran Eriksson admits the Newcastle striker's World Cup may be over but Rooney's verdict was much more promising as England head into the knock-out rounds.
Rooney, 20, said: "My fitness has never been a problem. I feel really good. I felt I could have played longer.
"It was nice to get back out there playing again. I think we did well in the first half but the tempo dropped a lot in the second.
"Not getting a goal is not a problem. That will come. We are just happy that we came out of it as group winners."
Rooney, starting his first game for more than seven weeks, seemed to be running out of steam but was not happy when he was replaced by Steven Gerrard.
He kicked a water-bottle as he came off, punched the roof of the Perspex dugout and then slung his boots away as he threw himself down on the bench.
Eriksson said: "I asked him why he did it and he said he was disappointed with himself because he thought he should have played better in the second half. It's not a problem at all.
"He could have played longer but it was his first game from the start. I couldn't risk overworking him. He will be better and better."
Rooney's fitness becomes even more crucial if Owen has to be sent home after his scan today.
Eriksson will be left with only three recognised strikers - and one of them is 17-year-old Theo Walcott who has only 25 minutes of international experience and has never played in the Premiership.
The decision of the England boss to leave Jermain Defoe behind at the expense of an extra midfielder looks set to haunt him.
It is Owen's injury, however, which comes as the biggest blow to England's hopes of winning the World Cup.
The Newcastle striker has 36 goals in his international career and has always been the man to rely upon on the big occasion.
Rooney said: "Losing Michael is a real blow to us. He is a very important player and you always know he will get you a goal.
"It's a big, big blow to have him injured. Hopefully the scan will be okay. We have our fingers crossed."