February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Capped 28 times by Sven-Goran Eriksson with a return of 11 goals, the 20-year-old striker is a frightening combination of force and finesse, possessing in equal measure a sublime touch and brutal pace and power.
He was 18 and leading England’s quest for glory at Euro ’04 with four goals when a broken foot early in a quarterfinal match with hosts Portugal doomed England’s run. Still, his exploits there earned him the 2004 “Golden Boy” prize for the best young player in Europe.
In 2005, Rooney was selected winner of the inaugural FIFPro World Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals, and he’s one of the early favorites to bag the first FIFA Young Player award at Germany ’06 along with Argentine whiz kid Lionel Messi and Germany’s Lukas Podolski.
Quick, explosive and with the build of a rugby player, Rooney should prove a handful for England’s Group B rivals Paraguay, Sweden and Caribbean newcomers Trindad & Tobago.
Yet as vital as he will be to the English campaign in Germany, the combustible youngster could easily torpedo it if he losses his head, as he’s prone to.
Born in Liverpool on October 24, 1985, Rooney burst into prominence at 16 when he hit a stunning last minute goal to hand Everton a 2-1 win over Arsenal early in the 2002/2003 EPL season.
A few months later at age 17, he became the youngest player capped by England, in a 3-1 defeat to Australia at Upton Park in February 2003. Later that September, Rooney, still 17, connected against Macedonia, setting a record as the youngest player to score for his country.
Following his brilliant performance at Euro ’04, Manchester United made him the world’s most expensive teenager when they lured him from Everton in a deal that could eventually be worth