England: Wayne Rooney ready to celebrate a century of caps
Wednesday 15 October 2014 07:50, UK
Wayne Rooney will celebrate racking up a century of England caps by walking out at Wembley next month with his two children.
It would have been nice if it was against Scotland at Celtic Park but it's a great honour to get 100 caps for England.
After three World Cups, two European Championships and 43 goals, the 28-year-old is just one game shy of joining an illustrious eight-strong list of players.
Rooney will soon be bracketed alongside the like of Bobby Moore, David Beckham and Sir Bobby Charlton, with his 100th cap set to arrive in next month's European Championship qualifier against Slovenia
The Manchester United forward made his international debut almost 12 years ago as a fresh-faced teenager when he played in a friendly against Australia.
And Rooney, who turns 29 later this month, admits: "I did not think this was possible when I first got into the team.
"But over the last two or three years when I got into the 70s, 80s and 90s then you know it is going to happen.
"It will be nice to get it and hopefully there will be many more after that. I think I'll be the youngest to do it but I started younger than most players start international football. It will be a special moment for me.”
The milestone will see him walk on to the Wembley field alongside his boys Kai and Klay.
He added: "It would have been nice if it was against Scotland at Celtic Park (that may be cap No 101) but it's a great honour to get 100 caps for England.
I did not think this was possible when I first got into the team
"My two boys will walk onto the pitch with me but that will be it I think.”
As for overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton's England scoring record of 49, Rooney added: "Obviously, as I'm edging closer to it I think about it. But I'm a strong believer in if it's going to happen it will.”
And England manager Roy Hodgson also paid tribute to his skipper: "For me 100 caps is some achievement because the competition you face for your shirt in England all the time should be enormous.
"He has taken a bashing over the years and that has toughened him up. He will sweat everything he has for England."
