In the national team's journey in the World Cup qualification European zone, Rooney contributed nine goals in six games.

When Rooney damaged his foot in the Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich in April, then aggravated his groin injury in Man United's last Premier League on May 9, the national team's fans held their breaths, because there are great expectations that this team could achieve much better after two quarterfinal finishes at the 2002 and 2006 World Cup.

Even more optimistic, many believe that England is likely to repeat the home soil victory in 1966.

England is lucky to avoid strong rivals such as Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire and France in the group stage and the team's biggest threat might come from the United States, which stunned European champion Spain at last year's Confederations Cup. The other two teams in Group C - Algeria and Slovenia - could hardly steal the show.

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