Wednesday 16 June 2004, 22:43
Everton star Wayne Rooney is on course to break another record against Switzerland in Coimbra, but won't be too concerned if he doesn't manage it - providing England win!
If he finds the target against the Swiss, he will be the youngest person to score in the finals of a European Championship. However, should the game go by without a Rooney goal, he will have at least one more chance against Croatia.
Rooney will be 18 years and 236 days old when he steps out at the Estadio Cidade on Thursday, 237 days younger than Dragan Stojkovic, who scored for Yugoslavia against France aged 19 years and 108 days in the 1984 finals.
The talented teenager is already Everton's youngest post-war goalscorer, England's youngest international and also the country's youngest scorer courtesy of his strike against Macedonia, whilst winning his sixth cap.
"Obviously, looking back in years to come, it would be a big thing if I scored," he said.
"But the main thing is to win the game, whoever scores."
Despite going down 1-2 to France in the most heartbreaking manner on Sunday, he revealed that spirits are still high in the England camp, due to the self-belief that exists within the squad.
However, complacency is the watchword for Rooney and Co.
Whereas everyone back home is expecting Sven's men to have little trouble against Switzerland, the fledgling star has admitted the team will have to be fully focused if they are to get the three points.
"We're confident," he continued.
"I think we did well on Sunday and if we take our game from there, I think we should have no problems.
"We've just been told to forget about the game and what happened and concentrate on the Switzerland game.
"There is a lot of expectation for us to win the game so, if we don't win, we'll be disappointed."
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