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Wayne Rooney: I Won't Be 'Brazil Class' Until I Lead England To Glory
Roo waves away comparisons to Selecao's finest...
13-Nov-2009 6:54:07 AM
England forward Wayne Rooney has rubbished the notion that he would walk into the Brazil lineup, insisting that such claims cannot be laid until he helps his nation to success at the major tournaments.
The Scouse striker will face the Selecao this weekend in Qatar, and he stressed that the South American giants remain the benchmark for all players to aspire to on the international stage.
He said in The Times: “I always enjoyed watching them. They’re world-class players, they’ve proven that and won World Cups and massive trophies. There’s still a lot I need to win before I can catch up to those players.
“If you want to be known and remembered in world football, I feel you would have to win a World Cup. Obviously there are players like George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo who are geniuses, but personally I feel I have to help England win a World Cup to be considered like that.”
Frank Lampard recently suggested that Rooney would slot seemlessly into Dunga's starting XI, furthering the widely held notion that the Liverpudlian is England's most samba-styled star.
The Manchester United man, though, thinks otherwise: “I certainly don’t look like a Brazilian. Obviously I’m happy if people say I play like a Brazilian, because I love the way they play, but there are other players in the England team who are a lot more skilful than me.”
Rooney singled out Chelsea playmaker Joe Cole as one of those he deems to have fancier feet than he, before explaining that it is not in his nature to consciously attempt tricks in the field of play.
“I never really try ‘skills’. If it happens in a game, it just happens. I don’t really try to be skilful,” he said.
“I always think it’s better when the ball comes to you and you do something naturally. You don’t think about it. You just do it. That’s when it works more. Sometimes if you work on stuff, it’s in your mind and you feel you have to do it in a game. Sometimes it won’t come off.”
Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK
The Scouse striker will face the Selecao this weekend in Qatar, and he stressed that the South American giants remain the benchmark for all players to aspire to on the international stage.
He said in The Times: “I always enjoyed watching them. They’re world-class players, they’ve proven that and won World Cups and massive trophies. There’s still a lot I need to win before I can catch up to those players.
“If you want to be known and remembered in world football, I feel you would have to win a World Cup. Obviously there are players like George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo who are geniuses, but personally I feel I have to help England win a World Cup to be considered like that.”
Frank Lampard recently suggested that Rooney would slot seemlessly into Dunga's starting XI, furthering the widely held notion that the Liverpudlian is England's most samba-styled star.
The Manchester United man, though, thinks otherwise: “I certainly don’t look like a Brazilian. Obviously I’m happy if people say I play like a Brazilian, because I love the way they play, but there are other players in the England team who are a lot more skilful than me.”
Rooney singled out Chelsea playmaker Joe Cole as one of those he deems to have fancier feet than he, before explaining that it is not in his nature to consciously attempt tricks in the field of play.
“I never really try ‘skills’. If it happens in a game, it just happens. I don’t really try to be skilful,” he said.
“I always think it’s better when the ball comes to you and you do something naturally. You don’t think about it. You just do it. That’s when it works more. Sometimes if you work on stuff, it’s in your mind and you feel you have to do it in a game. Sometimes it won’t come off.”
Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK
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