27 March 2005    
Exclusive: Gary Neville interview


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Gary Neville believes Wayne Rooney can play an instrumental role in helping England do well at the World Cup finals next summer.

Rooney showed his importance to the England team once again during the 4-0 win over Northern Ireland at the weekend.

The Manchester United striker caused all kinds of problems for the Northern Ireland defence throughout the 80 minutes he was on the pitch and played a major role in helping set up the third goal.

And after stealing all the headlines at Euro 2004 last summer, Neville believes he can do the same again if England manage to secure their place at the showpiece event in Germany next summer.

Neville said: "Wayne is more than capable of changing a game at any moment. He ran Northern Ireland ragged and if you give him time and space and let him run at you then you are in trouble.

"It is not just his skill but his pure strength. Sometimes you look as if you are getting the ball, and I've had that in training against him, and he just brushes you off.

"He showed amazing strength for the third goal. He shouldn't have really got along the by-line. He was up against a six feet, four inches tall centre-half and he just brushes him out of the way.

"There aren't many players who can run with the ball, not just in England, but in European football, who can pick it up in central areas and go past players.

"He is one of those players who can do it and we are blessed to have him and we've looked after him and make sure he is flying next year in the World Cup finals.

"It comes natural to him. I don't think he feels any responsibility. He is just doing things naturally, playing football like he has been since he was six or seven. I don't think he sees being out there being any different to playing in the school yard.

"He just loves playing football. That's why I don't think there is any responsibility on his shoulders. He might be different when he is 25, 26 but at this stage he is just loving his football.

"Even when he came to United, a £30 million move at the age of 18-19, he's not fazed. I've seen players 27-28 come to United and struggle with a lesser price tag but it's just natural to him, the whole thing.

"He is not a selfish type. He is more happy when the team wins. There have been strikers down the years that, you know yourself, they feel they have to score to contribute to the team."

Neville knows the importance of keeping Rooney fit throughout a major tournament could make all the difference if England are to lift a major trophy next summer.

The young superstar showed his potential in Euro 2004 last summer before sustaining a nasty injury against Portugal – something Neville hopes will never occur again in a major tournament for his country.

Neville added: "We have to make sure he is fit for the World Cup. We lost him in the European championships last summer and whilst one player should never break a team, with the Championships he was having if he had stayed on the pitch it might have been a different story for us.

"That's the fine line that we tread and if you lose your great player, like France losing Henry or Italy lose Totti during a match and they're in a great run of form, usually it's the form player that wins those type of performances for you.

"It is just making sure that he is fit and available going into the games for the World Cup."

To watch the exclusive TheFA.com interview with Gary, click on one of the links above.