ROONEY: WE'LL WIN WORLD CUP
Wayne Rooney is confident England will win the World Cup in Germany this summer.
The 20-year-old Manchester United striker believes the recent 3-2 friendly win over Argentina proves Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad has what it takes to lift the trophy.
And he revealed Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard agrees with him.
"Of course we are going to win the World Cup," Rooney told Sir Stanley. "We are all really excited by Germany and everyone in the team knows we are good enough to do the business.
"I have spoken to Stevie Gerrard about this and we both reckon we have the players to do it.
"The main thing is we go out there and give our best. But I will do everything I can to help us win the World Cup."
Michael Owen scored two dramatic late goals to earn England victory against Argentina in November, and Rooney said: "Beating them like that has done wonders for our confidence.
"We were able to run at their defenders and commit them to making tackles in areas they didn't want to.
"We really piled the pressure on to them and once we did that, I don't think they could live with us."
Meanwhile Rooney is now learning to cope with opponents winding him up.
The 20-year-old was disappointed with the way he handled himself during England's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland last September.
Rooney was fortunate not to be sent off as England slumped to a humiliating 1-0 defeat in Belfast.
He was booked for leading with an elbow in a challenge on Keith Gillespie and then fortunate to escape more punishment in a similar clash with Chris Baird.
Rooney was clearly wound up and even bellowed abuse towards captain David Beckham.
But Rooney is confident he has matured, and told The Daily Mirror: "I know when people will target you and wind you up and I can cope with that much better.
"It was a tough game in Northern Ireland and I was disappointed in the way that I handled myself in that game.
"But I keep learning all the time and I think I am getting better and I think you can see that in my game. I want to keep playing my football to the best of my ability."
Rooney is a self-confessed bad loser and insists the time to worry will be if that ever changes.
"I love playing football but I think I am like everyone else, I hate losing and love winning.
"And if the time comes when I am not disappointed when things are definitely not going right, then that's when people should worry.
"I'm more experienced as I have been playing for a few years. The only answer is to get on with it and play your football."
