Wayne Rooney: I won't walk away from England
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Updated 11/10/2016 at 06:42 GMT
Wayne Rooney is adamant he has no plans to retire from international football after being dropped for the first time by England for Tuesday night’s match against Slovenia.
England interim manager Gareth Southgate and Wayne Rooney during the press conference
Image credit: Reuters
Rooney has been rested on occasion, most recently in the final group game of Euro 2016 against Slovakia, but the World Cup qualifier is the first time he has been left on the bench by an England boss.
Gareth Southgate took the decision after mounting criticism of Rooney’s form ,with Jordan Henderson set to captain England as they seek to make it three wins from three.
Rooney, who says he will retire after the 2018 World Cup, has no plans to bring that forward despite losing his place for his country as well as his club.
“It is something which I have to go through,” Rooney said as he appeared at the pre-match press conference. “I am big enough to deal with it. I believe I can come back from this. I am 30 years of age. I am not 35 or 36 where you are thinking: ‘Can you get back from it?’
"I will keep working and I have said before that I will not stop playing for England and start going to Dubai for a few days in the international break.
After the summer it would have been easy for me to walk away and say: ‘That’s it, I’ve had enough,’ but that’s not me. I feel I have a lot to offer and I’ve made that clear [to Southgate], certainly until the World Cup in Russia. That’s what I want. I’m not suddenly going to turn round and say: ‘I’m not playing, I’m not going to turn up.’ I will turn up when called upon and be ready.
“Ryan Giggs at 30 wasn’t the same player he was at 18 and he played until he was 40. There’s lots of examples out there you can use – players re-evaluate and work out the best way to move forwards. I’m sure that will happen with me.
"I am not naive in terms of thinking that I am still a 20-year-old. I understand that. My game is different to that of a 20-year-old, but I also think I have qualities that can help move this team forward. I’m not denying it’s a difficult moment but I have to show the right attitude, try to be positive and make sure I am supportive of my team-mates.”
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