Henry praises Rooney's style

Young Rooney is being tipped to explode onto the international scene at Euro 2004, just as a teenage Owen did at World Cup 98.

Henry was a major player in France's World Cup winning side during that tournament, and he sees similarities with the way he used to play.

The 26-year-old says he has already warned his French team-mates to watch out for the Everton whiz-kid.

"I like the way he plays and I've said that to all my French team-mates," said Henry.

"He can play with the pressure. I was asked to take a penalty against Italy in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1998.

"I said yes without even thinking. Now I would say yes, but I would think first. Back then the boss asked me and I said yes straight away. 'Yeah, ok'. Now it would be 'oooh'.

"At that age, you don't feel like that - and you can see it in the eyes of Wayne Rooney.

"I like people who can make me jump off my feet.

"One thing I really respect about the English game is that it's played with the heart, win lose or draw. I like Rooney for that.

"You sometimes see him do some strange tackles, some strange challenges, but he's a guy who plays with his heart.

"I don't know how long he will stay there, but he obviously loves Everton and you can see that he doesn't care who he is playing against or where he's playing."

The Arsenal man has less flattering words about England's other marksman Michael Owen.

Still only 24, Owen is level with Henry on international goals scored, but the Frenchman believes their styles are markedly different.

He says he admires Owen for being able to hang around the box and still score goals, but Henry insists he has to get more involved in the game.

"I cannot wait around for someone to deliver. I cannot, I would die," said Henry.

"I admire Michael for what he does because I cannot do that - I can't stay in the box - I have to move around.

"Even if I have to drop and get the ball off the goalkeeper I would do it because I need to touch the ball and be involved in everything.

"I admire the likes of Michael, David Trezeguet, Filippo Inzaghi and Pauleta. It doesn't matter to them if they don't touch the ball.

"But sometimes if I score and don't play well then I'm not happy. I get joy from scoring but if I don't get pleasure from the game then I am not proud."

The two sets of forwards will go head-to-head in Sunday's showdown in Lisbon.