Eighteen-year-old Wayne Rooney was the toast of his country on Friday after his two goals against Switzerland helped England get back into contention in Euro 2004.
"Roo The Man," trumpeted The Sun after the Everton striker became the youngest goalscorer ever in the European Championship finals.
"Rooney to the Rescue," hailed The Daily Mail.
PHOTO: EPA
"Baby elephant brings the house down," was the accolade from The Times of the burly, strapping player who has been warned by his Everton manager this season to cut out the junk food.
The Guardian points out the abrasive teenager could have got himself sent off before he scored after he followed through on Swiss goalkeeper Jorg Stiel with studs showing, and was booked, and then wrestled their striker Alexander Frei to the ground.
"When Rooney finally detonated, it was in the right way, in the right place and at the right time," the paper adds.
Born on October 24, 1985, Rooney only wore an England shirt for the first time in February last year aged 17 years and four months, becoming England's youngest ever cap, in a friendly against Australia.
Before the tournament started Chelsea were said to be ready to make a US$54.5 million bid for the player.
They might have to double that now -- if not triple it, after the teenager's record-breaking showing at the showcase of Europe's soccer.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over
RSS