TNT Sports
Rooney: We must stop Giggs
By
Published 31/08/2005 at 18:54 GMT+1
Striker Wayne Rooney says stopping his club team mate Ryan Giggs will be the key to winning Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Wales. The Manchester United pair will face each other in a Group Six game in Cardiff.
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Rooney expects England to be given a hard time after beating Wales 2-0 at Old Trafford last October.
"He's a great player," Rooney told reporters after training on Wednesday. "I work with him every day, so I see what he can do. If we can keep Giggsy quiet then we should win the game.
"I think it will be a tough game. I think it will be a battle, we're preparing for that, anyway...Wales are a good team, we know most of the players. We've watched videos as well.
"At Old Trafford, we ran out worthy winners, so I think it will be a lot tougher with their home crowd."
England go into the match two points behind group leaders Poland, but with a game in hand and with another qualifier the following Wednesday in Northern Ireland.
"We want six points and we won't be happy with anything less than that from these two games," said the 19-year-old, arguably England's best player at Euro 2004. "Then we'd be on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup."
Victory on Saturday would be particularly sweet for Rooney, who suffered the anguish of losing last season's FA Cup final on penalties to Arsenal at the same Cardiff venue.
"Sometimes the Millennium Stadium can be a bit daunting," he said.
England will have to do so without the efforts of Rooney's usual strike partner, Michael Owen, who is suspended on Saturday.
Welcoming Owen's move this week from Real Madrid to Newcastle United, Rooney told Sky Sports News: "I think it's good for English football, Owen coming back...He's a great player and has scored a lot of goals in the Premiership.
"Hopefully, he can carry that on for Newcastle."
In Owen's absence, Rooney is expected to partner Jermain Defoe.
"I think we'll do well together as he is a good player," Rooney said. "He's been scoring at the start of the season for Tottenham as well so he'll be confident coming into the game."
"He's a great player," Rooney told reporters after training on Wednesday. "I work with him every day, so I see what he can do. If we can keep Giggsy quiet then we should win the game.
"I think it will be a tough game. I think it will be a battle, we're preparing for that, anyway...Wales are a good team, we know most of the players. We've watched videos as well.
"At Old Trafford, we ran out worthy winners, so I think it will be a lot tougher with their home crowd."
England go into the match two points behind group leaders Poland, but with a game in hand and with another qualifier the following Wednesday in Northern Ireland.
"We want six points and we won't be happy with anything less than that from these two games," said the 19-year-old, arguably England's best player at Euro 2004. "Then we'd be on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup."
Victory on Saturday would be particularly sweet for Rooney, who suffered the anguish of losing last season's FA Cup final on penalties to Arsenal at the same Cardiff venue.
"Sometimes the Millennium Stadium can be a bit daunting," he said.
England will have to do so without the efforts of Rooney's usual strike partner, Michael Owen, who is suspended on Saturday.
Welcoming Owen's move this week from Real Madrid to Newcastle United, Rooney told Sky Sports News: "I think it's good for English football, Owen coming back...He's a great player and has scored a lot of goals in the Premiership.
"Hopefully, he can carry that on for Newcastle."
In Owen's absence, Rooney is expected to partner Jermain Defoe.
"I think we'll do well together as he is a good player," Rooney said. "He's been scoring at the start of the season for Tottenham as well so he'll be confident coming into the game."
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