Rooney admits he REGRETS lashing out at booing fans in 2010 World Cup
Wayne Rooney admits he REGRETS lashing out at booing England fans after dismal goalless draw with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup… as he concedes South Africa was ‘the low point’ of his international career
- Wayne Rooney admitted he regrets lashing out at fans at the 2010 World Cup
- England were booed by supporters as they slumped to a 0-0 draw with Algeria
- D.C. United coach called the tournament the ‘low point’ of his England career
- Rooney revealed he still does not know why he failed to perform in South Africa
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Wayne Rooney has admitted that he regrets his post-game outburst as England slumped to a 0-0 draw with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup.
As a chorus of jeers rang out across the stadium in Cape Town England’s leading goalscorer infamously remarked to a trailing TV camera: ‘Nice to see your own fans booing you. you ‘football’ supporters.’
In a column for The Times, the now-D.C. United head coach explained that his outburst was the result of pent-up frustration following the team’s disappointing performance:
Wayne Rooney has admitted he regrets his post-match outburst towards fans after England’s draw with Algeria in 2010
‘Obviously, I shouldn’t have said what I did. It wasn’t a dig about England fans in general, just frustration at what happened on the day.
‘I remember them booing us ten minutes into the game. You’re being labelled as a group of players who don’t care and it’s far from it — you probably care too much and are trying too hard. ‘
Led by Fabio Capello, the Three Lions had waltzed to qualification in South Africa, topping their group and winning nine of ten games including two victories over the Croatia side that had denied them a place at the Euros two years earlier.
The 37-year-old admitted he still doesn’t know why he failed to find his form as England crashed out in South Africa
A shocking draw with the USA in the team’s tournament opener failed to inspire confidence in the squad, and Capello’s men were ultimately fortunate to progress from the group stage thanks to a narrow win over Slovenia.
Defeat to eventual semi-finalists Germany followed in the round of 16, as Rooney failed to find his form on the biggest stage calling the tournament the ‘low point of my England career.’
However, despite their disappointing results, Rooney explained that his poor performances in South Africa were not due to a lack of effort.
The D.C. United manager called England’s failure in 2010 the ‘low point’ of his international career
‘I was thinking: “What’s going on?” I still don’t know why I was so off-form. Stuff came out in my private life a couple of months afterwards and I’ve read claims that was the reason I struggled, that it was playing on my mind. In fact, I didn’t know that stuff was coming, so it wasn’t a factor.
‘It was just football. What I do know is the overwhelming pride I felt to play for my country. I’ve got the England flag tattooed on my arm.
‘Wearing the shirt was a huge honour and the truth is in sport that you do everything you can to try to do well but sometimes it just doesn’t happen, sometimes you’re not good enough on the day. It’s never through a lack of trying.’
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