England striker Wayne Rooney is taking inspiration from Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe as he attempts to turn around his form at international level.
The Manchester United star appeared at the Football Association’s new National Football Centre on Tuesday to speak about his return to the England squad for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino.
The training centre features photos of soccer greats and is also adorned with inspirational quotes one by Thorpe which reads: “Losing is not coming second. It’s getting out of the water knowing you could have done better.”
Rooney said the five-time Olympian’s words had struck a chord amid criticism of his performances for England.
“I think the place is inspirational,” Rooney said.
“Walking round you see all the history of England and pictures up and the Ian Thorpe quote stuck in my mind – I think it’s quite good.
“I always try to give everything and leave everything on the pitch. Sometimes it happens where you don’t play well but you have tried.
“I always feel like I have given everything, whether I have played well or badly. I always try to come off exhausted.”
Rooney returns for England after recovering from a gashed thigh he suffered playing for his club in August.
And the Wembley match is his first international since an uninspiring Euro 2012, for which he was initially suspended.
A widely-reported pre-tournament holiday Las Vegas, while he was injured, did not go down well either.
He was later accused by former England manager Fabio Capello of only playing his best football for United, but while accepting the criticism he has received for his international displays, Rooney insisted his lack of success has not been for want of effort.
Rooney claimed he did not see the Capello comments, but admitted: “I can understand and see where people are coming from. But I wasn’t in Vegas going out every night drinking and partying. Obviously I went out one night and that was seen.
“I couldn’t train anyway. That is why I had the extra time off. I had to have something done to my toe. It was just a way to relax before I came into training but obviously I can understand.
“I’d have liked to have played better for England.
“For whatever reasons it hasn’t happened but I can hold my head up high and say I’ve always worked hard, given everything and I’ll continue to do that.
“Hopefully it will come off for us one day.”
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