Rooney eyes happy ending

Rooney played a key role in England reaching next summer's finals in Portugal by netting a crucial goal in September's away win over Macedonia.

That strike made him the youngest-ever scorer for the England side and merely added another chapter in Rooney's remarkable rise to football stardom.

Since breaking into the Everton team over 12 months ago, Rooney has never looked back and the teenage striker is aiming to cap his journey towards the top with European Championship glory for England.

"It's been a remarkable 18 months for me," Rooney told The Daily Mirror. "During the World Cup I watched all the games I could with my mates.

"I didn't really think I'd be in the Everton team by now, let alone in the England squad.

"What has happened to me has really been a fairytale and I hope the dream can continue. It's been a fantastic year for me.

"I couldn't have wished for anything more than to do well for Everton and then play well for my country.

"It's been a great international season so far and hopefully it's going to get even better. I know that I'm still at the beginning of my career and my aim is to get a lot more caps and goals in the years to come."

Rooney, who has scored three times in his last four England appearances, is confident Sven Goran Eriksson has assembled a squad capable of challenging for the Euro 2004 crown.

The 18-year-old forward believes England's rivals in the tournament will be afraid of The Three Lions rather than Eriksson's troops being scared of their opponents.

He added: "We know that if we play to the best of our ability we've got a great chance of lifting the trophy.

"I am going to watch the draw. Hopefully we can get a good one but I don't think there's any reason for us to fear any team.

"We have great players. We know that the fans expect us to do well and it's down to us to give them what they want.

"I think it's fair to say that nobody would fancy playing us. If we keep going the way we are then teams will be frightened of playing us."