Rooney: England can win Euro 2012

England striker Wayne Rooney believes that the Three Lions can lift the Euro 2012 trophy this year.

The 26-year-old is banned for his side’s first two group games following his kick-out at Montengro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in the final game of qualifying.

However, he says Roy Hodgson’s squad should go into the tournament in Poland and Ukraine with the belief that they can win it.

“I think you go into a tournament hoping you can win it,” he told BBC’s Football Focus.

“That’s the main thing. In the past two tournaments (World Cup 2006 and 2010), they’ve ended in disappointment. Now is the time to put that right.”

The Manchester United forward also described England’s recent failures at major tournaments as an underachievement.

And the Croxteth-born star insists the current crop will do their utmost to ensure there is not a repeat at this edition of the European Championships.

“We know as players that we’ve been expected to do better than we have done in recent years,” he said.

“We understand that when you play for England you’re there to be shot at. We need to be sure we give our all and that when the tournament comes we try to win. If we do that and we’re not good enough, then we’ll hold our hands up.

“I don’t see why we can’t win it. We’ve certainly got the players and the quality. The new manager coming in has lifted everybody. As players, we know there’s been a lot of changes to the squad and a lot of younger players given the opportunity.

“We expect big things of ourselves, to come out here and do well. If people don’t expect that, it’s down to them. As long as we expect it of ourselves, we know we’re good enough to get to the semi-finals or the final, so that’s the aim.”