'Mature' Rooney hopes for a better World Cup this time

London, Sep. 13 (ANI): Wayne Rooney is hoping for a better World Cup this time.

The England striker suffered his lowest point in 2006 when he was sent off during the quarter-final defeat to Portugal after stamping on Ricardo Carvalho.

"What happened last time isn't something I'd have wished for. The way the World Cup ended was disappointing."

"But I have matured a lot as a player since then and hopefully it will be better this time.

"I had worked really hard to get there and to get sent off and for us to get knocked out in that game was a real disappointment," News of the World quoted him, as saying.

Rooney overcame a metatarsal injury to appear in Germany 2006 - only to see his tournament collapse in that infamous incident.

Rooney believes that manager Fabio Capello will make sure England have every chance of winning the Cup.

"The manager tells us what he expects and we will go into the World Cup well prepared.

"It's good for me because the system we play allows me a free role but I defend when we haven't got the ball. I thought we all combined well on Wednesday.

"A few of the lads we took last time were really young - Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon have more experience now. We are more equipped," Rooney said. (ANI)