Football: Rooney To End England Career After 2018 World Cup
Sumaira FH Published August 30, 2016 | 08:48 PM
BURTON-ON-TRENT, United Kingdom, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th August, 2016) : Wayne Rooney announced on Tuesday that the campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be his last as an England player. "Realistically I know myself that Russia will be my last opportunity to do anything with England," Rooney told a press conference at St George's Park in Burton, central England. "So I'm going to try and enjoy these two years and hopefully I can end my career with England on a high." New England manager Sam Allardyce confirmed on Monday that Rooney, 30, will be kept on as captain for the World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins in Slovakia on Sunday. The Manchester United striker will make his 116th England appearance in Trnava, taking him past David Beckham as the country's most-capped outfield player. Captain since August 2014, Rooney is also England's record goal-scorer with 53 goals. But in six major tournament appearances with England, he has never gone further than the quarter-finals. England crashed out in the group phase at the last World Cup in Brazil two years ago and, with Rooney as captain, were humiliated by minnows Iceland in the last at Euro 2016. "I have had a fantastic international career so far, played a lot of games and enjoyed every minute, but at some point it is going to come to an end," Rooney said. "I'm not old, I'm 30 years of age, and come Russia I feel that will be the time for me to say goodbye to international football. "My mind is made up.
It is up to Sam Allardyce again over the next two years, but if selected, I will have enjoyed it.
Some highs, some lows, but I'll be an immensely proud man." Rooney's most impressive performance for England at a major tournament remains Euro 2004 in Portugal, when, aged only 18, he scored four goals as Sven Goran Eriksson's side reached the last eight. England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and he did not manage to find the net as they met with disappointment at the World Cups of 2006 and 2010. Rooney ended an eight-year wait for a major tournament goal at Euro 2012, but England fell in the quarter-finals. Although Rooney was deployed in midfield by former manager Roy Hodgson during Euro 2016, Allardyce has indicated he intends to use him in a number 10 role. Rooney has been playing in that position under new United manager Jose Mourinho since the start of the season, but the former Everton player said he was happy to play anywhere. "It's the manager's decision," Rooney said.
"We haven't spoken about that. In the next few days we'll speak about it more, whether it's as a midfielder or attacker. "It's only a day we've been together, but you can see he's a relaxed guy, and since we've been here the camp has been good.
It's just a matter of getting on the training pitch. "I'm looking forward to getting back on the pitch. We have bad memories from the last game (against Iceland), obviously. We have to put it behind us. "It was disappointing the way we went out of the tournament. You can't forget it, but it's a new era for us, a new manager."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From Pakistan
-
Hajj training for intending pilgrims held
5 minutes ago -
Private education sector demands allocation of funds for educational institutions
5 minutes ago -
DG Libraries inaugurates third day of book fair
5 minutes ago -
Police conducts crackdown against drug dealers
6 minutes ago -
Motorcyclist crushed to death by dumper
6 minutes ago -
Ethiopian envoy emphasises working for collective prosperity
6 minutes ago
-
Family of slain police officer demands justice
16 minutes ago -
Abdul Wasay, Faisal Wawda take oath as Senators
16 minutes ago -
Colorful event inaugurated at KUST
25 minutes ago -
Balochistan suitable region for int’l investment, govt to provide all facilities under one-window ..
26 minutes ago -
Lahore Police adopt foolproof security for Pakistan-New Zealand T20 cricket series
26 minutes ago -
DIG IT appointed as Commandant SSU, CPEC
26 minutes ago