Bring on Germany, says Rooney

Wayne Rooney has insisted he would relish the prospect of coming up against Germany in the first knockout round at the World Cup.

England’s talisman admitted he was impressed by the Germans’ 4-0 demolition of Australia in their opening match, but that does not mean he thinks he and his teammates should feel worried about the prospect of meeting their biggest rivals in the round of 16.

“Yes. I’d like to play Germany,” Rooney said with a steely-eyed stare at the German reporter who had dared to suggest he might not welcome the prospect.

“It would be nice to beat them.”

Germany are the only footballing superpower to put down a significant early marker here and Rooney believes this World Cup is up for grabs, a view supported by pre-tournament favourites Spain’s shock defeat to Switzerland on Wednesday.

“Germany played really well against Australia, but there have not been any stand-out teams that I wouldn’t like to meet,” Rooney said. “It is wide open.”

England will meet Germany in the first knockout round if they finish first and second in their groups, or vice versa.

Rooney says his confidence that England will improve on a disappointing 1-1 draw with the United States in their opening match in South Africa is shared by head coach Fabio Capello and the rest of the squad.

“The manager is obviously confident and I’m a confident person too,” he said. “I believe we will qualify from this group – I don’t think there will be any problems about that.”

The Manchester United striker admitted he knew little about Algeria, England’s opponents in their must-win second Group C match, in Cape Town on Friday.

But that did not stop him bullishly predicting an England victory in terms Algeria’s management team will no doubt welcome as the perfect incentive for their players to create a major upset.

“The performance on Friday is not something I am too worried about,” Rooney confessed. “The only thing I am concerned about is winning.

Asked what he knew of Algeria, Rooney admitted: “Not much. There’s (Nadir) Belhadj from Portsmouth, but I don’t really much more about them. I’m sure the manager will point out their strengths and weaknesses to us.”

England’s goal, for Rooney, will be to put their disappointing display against the Americans out of their minds, while he has bigger targets for himself.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “We’ve got a chance now to put that game right, and beat Algeria, and I’m pretty confident we will do.

“There were moments when I did some good things against the US, and moments when I would have liked to get on the ball more but I never. There were glimpses. But personally I know I can play better and hope to put that right.”

Putting things right, for Rooney, represents something of a tall order, given the precedents he judges himself against.

“What Maradona did in 1986 and what Pele did in three World Cups,” he replied when asked to outline the performances that had inspired him as a child.

“They are the two standout players to take the World Cup by the scruff of the neck and virtually win it single-handed. You look at those two and if you can do half of what they achieved, then that would be great.”