Wayne Rooney was once a 12-year-old football fan who wanted to be Michael Owen.
But, just seven years on, he will be with Michael Owen as the pair look to continue their flourishing England strike partnership in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier in Newcastle at St James’ Park against minnows Azerbaijan.
Like millions of fans worldwide back in 1998, Rooney watched spellbound as then teenage striker Owen announced himself on the international stage with a superb solo goal against Argentina at the World Cup in France, a match the South Americans would later win on penalties.
And not even the fact that Owen, now at Real Madrid, was playing for Liverpool at the time could lessen the admiration of Everton supporter Rooney.
”For the 1998 World Cup, I used to watch all the games on TV at my Nan’s [grandmother’s] house and then go outside afterwards and play football in the street.
”I think Michael’s goal against Argentina was brilliant. The way he took the ball was amazing and he was so composed when he got in front of the goal. I think I probably pretended to be Michael Owen that night!”
Rooney, who became England’s youngest player when he made his debut aged 17 years and 111 days against Australia in 2003, said of his partnership with Owen: ”He likes to play on the shoulder and I like to drop off, so we complement each other well.
”I do feel that in a game one of the two of us is always likely to get on the score sheet,” Rooney, who joined Manchester United from Everton in a £27-million pre-season move, also told the Football Association’s official website.
That was certainly the case against Northern Ireland last Saturday where Owen was on target in a 4-0 win at Old Trafford that kept England top of European qualifying-zone group six and well on course to reach next year’s finals in Germany.
But Rooney played his part too. He beat two Northern Ireland defenders and then, showing great strength, stayed on his feet after a clumsy challenge before delivering the pull-back that led to Chris Baird’s own-goal.
It was further confirmation of Rooney’s burgeoning all-round talent and he said: ”As I’ve got older, I’ve realised how important it is to pass the ball, especially when players are in better positions.
”I think now I bring other players into the game much more. When I made the run along the touchline on Saturday, I saw the opportunity to beat the man and I just went for it.
”He caught me and I could have gone down but I wanted to stay on my feet, because I knew I would have the chance to score myself or set someone else up.”
He added: ”My strength probably comes from the fact that I went to boxing for four or five years. I was only small when I was younger so I think that gave me a lot of my strength.”
But he admitted he still has plenty to learn, citing two of his Old Trafford and England teammates as role models.
”You are always wanting to learn as a professional footballer, how people do things on and off the pitch. I know that I’ve still got a lot to learn.
”Gary and Phil Neville, for example, they do everything right. They eat all the right food and do all the right training. I’d probably say they are the perfect pros.”
Bottom-of-the-group Azerbaijan were thrashed 8-0 by Poland last weekend and Rooney, scorer of nine goals in 22 England appearances, admitted: ”I think people will look at it and say that they have scored eight, so they will be expecting us to do the same but as long as we come away with the three points, that’s all that we are concerned with.”
Rooney hasn’t scored for his country since netting doubles against Switzerland and Croatia at Euro 2004. There, his tournament ended prematurely in the next game after a broken foot forced him off early against Portugal in a match the hosts won on penalties to knock England out.
But the striker, sometimes criticised for losing his cool with players and officials, insisted self-doubt is not an issue.
”Never. I am a footballer who is confident in myself and my ability on the pitch. From the first moment the manager [Sven-Goran Eriksson] has picked me for England, I have always thought that I am worthy of playing on this stage.” — Sapa-AFP