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Rooney confident England can 'do a job' on Italy
Jun 21, 2012 2:00:00 PM
The striker knows Cesare Prandelli's side represent a stern test in the quarter-final, but he is adamant this is the most committed Three Lions side he has been involved with
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.00 | Draw £41.00 | Ireland £62.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | England £14.00 | Draw £43.30 | Ireland £55.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.33 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £65.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.00 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.30 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £65.00 |
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England forward Wayne Rooney is in an optimistic mood ahead of the Three Lions’ quarter-final clash with Italy on Sunday, claiming the team are more than good enough to beat Cesare Prandelli’s side.
Following England’s disappointing showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the team has appeared considerably more relaxed and determined at Euro 2012, and Rooney is sure they are ready to reach the semi-finals.
The Manchester United striker believes the squad are more organised and together than any previous national team selection he has been involved with, and although he admits the Azzurri will prove a massive test for England, he is confident it will be Roy Hodgson’s side celebrating on Sunday.
| Hart says England form is no surprise |
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Speaking to talkSPORT, Rooney said: "We're more organised than ever. The lads have all been fighting for each other.
“We want to do this together, so I think we've got a great chance. We feel good, we've prepared well and we're really looking forward to it.
"It's important that we believe in ourselves. We've got a great group of players and we're confident.
"It's not going to be an easy game, but we've got the players, we've got the belief and the togetherness to do a job on them. Once you get to this stage of the competition anything can happen."
Rooney missed England’s opening two matches of Group D, with the team picking up a draw with France before grabbing a 3-2 win over Sweden, but on his return he found the net in the 1-0 win over Ukraine. Although he feels he could have done a lot better overall, he was pleased with how he grew into the contest.
"Maybe a few years ago I would have run round trying to do everything in the first 20 minutes, but you've got to try and feel your way into the game.
"I tried to do that - I didn't always do it as well as I wanted to, but that was always going to be the case I think. As the game went on I felt stronger and that will help us for Sunday."| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
6:53 PM BST
Carlo Garganese is in the house, so so keep your questions coming on Twitter, folks.
@SaryHishi: Can the Gotze injury determine the outcome in this match ? As in can the injury affect BVB that much ? #UCL
CG: Dortmund are significantly weakened by the injury to Gotze. The youngster is not only crucial offensively, but he also plays a key role in cutting the supply line from deep, as he did so brilliantly against Xabi Alonso when Dortmund played Madrid. Dortmund still have plenty of other weapons, but there is no doubt that they are a stronger side with Gotze in the team.
@SaryHishi: Can the Gotze injury determine the outcome in this match ? As in can the injury affect BVB that much ? #UCL
CG: Dortmund are significantly weakened by the injury to Gotze. The youngster is not only crucial offensively, but he also plays a key role in cutting the supply line from deep, as he did so brilliantly against Xabi Alonso when Dortmund played Madrid. Dortmund still have plenty of other weapons, but there is no doubt that they are a stronger side with Gotze in the team.
6:49 PM BST
Fair to say that our man Jay Jaffa is really savouring the atmosphere at Wembley right now:
"Just off Wembley Way I've found a Bayern 'area', if you can call it that. A mass of red-shirted fans are lapping up the last of the sunshine and having a sing-song. On the opposite side of Wembley, Dortmund have an official brass band smashing out A-Ha's 1985 classic 'Take On Me', while a group of insanely talented ball jugglers entertain the passers by. It's ramping up now, more folk are filling the walkways and it truly feels like the Champions League final. Not long now ... "
Couldn't agree more with Jay: the excitement really is building; and 'Take On Me' was indeed a classic. Indeed, if the 1980s gave us nothing else (and other than Arrigo Sacchi's wonderful Milan side, they didn't!), they did at least provide us with a pop song as brilliant as its video - a rare occurrence in the music world.
"Just off Wembley Way I've found a Bayern 'area', if you can call it that. A mass of red-shirted fans are lapping up the last of the sunshine and having a sing-song. On the opposite side of Wembley, Dortmund have an official brass band smashing out A-Ha's 1985 classic 'Take On Me', while a group of insanely talented ball jugglers entertain the passers by. It's ramping up now, more folk are filling the walkways and it truly feels like the Champions League final. Not long now ... "
Couldn't agree more with Jay: the excitement really is building; and 'Take On Me' was indeed a classic. Indeed, if the 1980s gave us nothing else (and other than Arrigo Sacchi's wonderful Milan side, they didn't!), they did at least provide us with a pop song as brilliant as its video - a rare occurrence in the music world.
6:40 PM BST
And now the Bayern line-up! The only small surprise here is that Jerome Boateng has been preferred to Daniel van Buyten alongside Dante at the heart of the defence. As expected, Mario Mandzukic has got the nod up front ahead of Mario Gomez.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Mandzukic.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Mandzukic.
6:36 PM BST
Borussia Dortmund have announced their starting line-up for tonight's Champions League final!! And it's as we predicted, with Kevin Grosskreutz starting on the left-hand side and Marco Reus moving infield to fill the void left by the injured Mario Gotze.
Dortmund XI v Bayern: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski.
Dortmund XI v Bayern: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski.
6:31 PM BST
Questions rolling in for our own Carlo Garganese over on Twitter, the most left-field of which comes 'I'm Moeg, Sien jy! @MurGyver 34s', who writes:
"Is it true that players can't wear underwear in the final?"
Surely you have to log on now for no other reason than to find out the answer to that cracking enquiry?!
"Is it true that players can't wear underwear in the final?"
Surely you have to log on now for no other reason than to find out the answer to that cracking enquiry?!
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