Rooney: I need goals for England
Wayne Rooney has been in disappointing form for his country lately
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Friday, 12, Oct 2007 09:27
Wayne Rooney has vowed to score his first competitive international goal since joining Manchester United in the upcoming Euro 2008 double-header.
The 21-year-old last got on the scoresheet for England in a match that was not a friendly at the European Championship finals in 2004, before a broken metatarsal against Portugal in the quarter-final ended his tournament.
And despite scoring the only goal in a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands last November, Rooney has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded his explosion onto the international scene three years ago.
"I've not played as well for England as I have for Manchester United," Rooney remarked.
"I don't know why the goals have not come for my country. When I first started playing for England I did really well, but the last couple of years have not gone as well as I would have liked."
In a bid to recover his golden touch in front of goal, Rooney has said he wants to find the net against either Estonia or Russia in the next five days.
"It has been frustrating and I have read about it, listened to things said and watched people talk about me," he said.
"I'll just have to play well and get a couple of goals in the next two matches and help England qualify."
If Rooney does get on the scoresheet and England register two wins, things will be looking rosy for Steve McClaren's side.
Six points out of six by next Thursday will put the Three Lions in pole position to qualify from their group and reach their sixth consecutive European Championship finals tournament.