Tuesday 17 May 2016 08:20, UK
Wayne Rooney spoke exclusively to Sky Sports about England's perfect qualifying campaign, their chances at Euro 2016 and his time as captain.
Roy Hodgson named a 26-man squad for England's Euro 2016 preparation friendlies against Turkey and Australia at the end of this month, and Rooney is more hopeful than ever that this could be their year.
Here, he speaks with Sky Sports News HQ's Nick Collins about England's progress since the World Cup in 2014, as well as looking back at a successful European Qualifiers campaign and why there is plenty of optimism for the future...
On England's 2-0 win in Switzerland after the World Cup...
It was a big game for us. We'd obviously lost Steven Gerrard after the World Cup, and it was a change for us. Roy made me captain, and we knew how important it was, coming off the World Cup. There was a lot of pressure going into the game on Roy himself, and to get the victory in the way we did, we played a different style of football than we played over the previous two years and it worked. It was more exciting to watch and more enjoyable to play in.
On England's 10 out of 10 European Qualifiers record...
We mentioned it after the Switzerland game, we didn't want to get carried away. We had a good strong [group] of young players and we felt it was achievable.
We knew it would be tough to do, but once that got close again, we felt that if we got 10 wins out of 10 it would stand us in good stead going into the tournament. It was something we aimed for and achieved. I know the players and manager were really happy, it showed a great consistency.
On becoming England captain...
I felt I was the natural successor to Steven as captain, and the manager did too. It's something I was delighted to do, and I want to do it to be successful as well. It's something I really take pride in and want to do to the best of my ability. I think the young lads in the squad have helped a lot, I feel it's an exciting time for English football with the squad we have.
To be a leader of those players, and to try and direct them in the right way, both on and off the pitch, is something I want to be successful at. I put a lot of effort in to do that.
The manager involves me in a lot of decisions. Obviously there's myself, and then we've put a team together with a few of the other senior players. If decisions on behalf of the team need making, I will go to those players, talk through it and decide what is best for the team. But of course, you have to be a role model and ambassador for the country, and that's what I've tried to do to the best of my ability.
On adapting his game...
As a player you are always adapting. You adapt to your team-mates, you adapt to the different coaches you are working under. It depends what the coaches want from you.
Throughout my career I've adapted to different situations and different teams I've played in, and I have no problem doing it. In football you need players who can play in different positions. I've always felt like I can play in different positions.
On his preferred position...
Obviously I want to play as striker but I've always believed I am capable of playing in different positions. I think you saw in World Cup 2006 with Owen Hargreaves, he was probably England's best player, purely for the fact he could play in different positions.
To have players like that in your squad is really important. The good thing that Roy has now is that he can look at the opponents and pick a midfield which is best for beating the opponent. We haven't always had that.
He could change the whole 11 if he had to now, and we would still have the chance of winning the game.
On England's attacking options...
We've got players who can play anywhere across that front line. Myself, Jamie Vardy, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge can play out wide too. It's always difficult for opponent as well.
It's going to be tough for the manager as well, I'm sure, to decide which players he will play in which games. But that's why he's manager, I'm sure he will make the right decision when it comes to it.
Experience is important, but the youth and energy of the other players is equally as important.
On England's chances at Euro 2016...
I feel we've got a very good squad. It's probably the first time I've felt the squad is capable in any given game of matching any team. But obviously it's one thing having that, and another being able to do that consistently throughout a tournament.
You never know with the players we've got how well they can do. You saw in the last World Cup we went out at the group stage. We've had a good Euro Qualifiers campaign, but we need to make sure that we don't slack, that we keep going and keep pushing forward, and give ourselves every possible chance.
On the Wayne Rooney Foundation...
It's all about sick children but also about children who need a better start in life. Obviously, having three children myself I felt they were the most important charities to raise money for. It's something I'm extremely proud to be able to do and I'd like to thank Manchester United for giving me the opportunity to be able to do that. Hopefully the money raised can change a lot of people's lives.
