Rooney can do without Ronaldo in quarter-final clash

By George Burns Jun 28, 2006, 17:49 GMT

Baden-Baden, Germany - Wayne Rooney admitted Wednesday that he would be happier if Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo failed to recover in time for Portugal's quarter-final clash with England

The winger limped off after 34 minutes of Portugal's explosive 1-0 win over the Netherlands with a thigh injury but is expected to recover in time for the England game after a scan revealed he's only got muscular swelling.

'It would be nice if he could just miss our game because he's a great player,' Rooney said ahead of Saturday's match in Gelsenkirchen.

'If he plays it will be a tougher job for us because I've played with him week in week out for the last two years and he's a handful for any team and hopefully we can keep him quiet on the day.'

The 20-year-old striker agreed that the lone striking role given to him by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson wasn't easy but that he felt he has delivered decent performances in the position.

'I think you've got to be more disciplined. You've got to stay up there and keep the pitch stretched and keep the game high. That's hard to do and it's a lot more hard work. I think I've done a good job up there on my own,' he said.

'I think it gives the midfield players a lot more chances and as long as we're winning games I'm not too concerned about that.'

England may have comfortably made it to the last eight of the World Cup but the team's lack of form has led to some heavy criticism in the English media, something Rooney felt was unjustified.

'I don't think we take too much notice of the criticism. We know the job we have to do and if we keep winning I don't see a problem. We're happy as a team and the fans seem happy,' said Rooney.

'You look at any other country. They get to the quarter-finals of the World Cup everyone's happy. I think it's only our country that's not.'