MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Wayne Rooney: The “new” Pele.
Forget Diego Maradona - The 18 year old English 'wonder kind' Wayne Rooney is, according to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, the greatest teenage talent to emerge since Pele.
Eriksson made his comment shortly after Rooney scored another 2 goals in the Euro 2004 Championships in Portugal, bring inning his total to 4. This means that the 18 year old is now the top scorer in the tournament, ahead of more illustrious strikers like Henry, Raul, Zidane and Vieri. England beat Crotia 4-2, so securing their place in the quarter-finals where they will play the host Country, Portugal on Thursday.
The England coach, Swedish born Eriksson said: "I don't remember anyone making such an impact on a tournement since Pele in the 1958 World Cup". He added, "Rooney is absolutely fantastic, not only at scoring goals but he plays football - he's a complete footballer. He deserves all the attention and all the front page headlines...I don't need to tell him how to score goals. It is better I don't say anything, his vision is incredible, he's ready for anything".
England's team captain David Beckham added his praise to the young Rooney saying, "He's an amazing player, he's proving that to a lot of people over here (Portugal). He doesn't have to prove it to us because we know what a great player he is".
Prior to the game on Monday night against Crotia, Rooney's value was said to be around $US 75 millions, but following his latest 2 goals, experts say that his value has probably increased to nearer $US 100 millions. Rooney plays for the unfashionable Premier team Everton and it seems likely that they will be unable to hold on to the player once the Euro 2004 Championships have ended.
The only question mark over Rooney is his temperament, and he picked up a booking in an earlier match in the tournement. Despite threats from the Croatian team that they would aim to get Rooney sent off, the 18 year old controlled himself throughout the game, and refused to respond to any provocation from the Croat players.
John Alsop - MercoPress - Lisbon.
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