Roy Hodgson looks at Rooney and sees Al Pacino!

Rooney is the star of England’s own Wayne’s World!

Roy Hodgson looks at Wayne Rooney and sees Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson!

The comparison doesn’t stem from the Manchester United striker’s moody streetwise persona or his boyish, often reckless charm.

It’s certainly nothing to do with his acting ability. The England manager likens Rooney to those Hollywood greats because they are the sort of marquee names whose responsibility it is to carry a movie.

Hodgson believes that Rooney has been cast in a similar role ever since he burst onto the international scene at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

As an 18-year-old, he scored four times in four appearances before limping off with a foot injury as England lost to the hosts on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Since then, every time England have reached a major Finals, Rooney has been billed as the man to make the difference.

It has never happened, mainly because he’s gone to the tournament carrying injuries or burdened by suspension.

“I’ve heard the judgment that’s been passed on Wayne but I can only speak about the one tournament he’s had with me,” says Hodgson.

“He tried very hard at Euro 2012. He wanted it very badly. You could argue he wanted it too badly. He missed the first two games through suspension and that badly hampered him. He was disappointed and frustrated in Poland.

“This time I’m going to see a totally different person hopefully the person who burst on to the scene in 2004. He’s only 28 the best age of his football career. If he was terrific in 2004, he should be even better now.

“It’s bad enough carrying the baggage that you’ve really been responsible for, but sometimes players carry baggage that other people give them. I refuse to go along with that.

“I’m sure it must be the same for big film stars. You make your first film when nobody knows much about you and you get good reviews.

“Then one day you’re Al Pacino or Jack Nicholson and suddenly you have to make a really good film!”

Hodgson believes that there are individuals within the 23-man squad he selected last Monday who will help ease the sort of pressure Rooney has allowed to get to him in the past.

“I think we’ve picked is a very good squad with lots of exciting players,” he says. “Wayne could benefit from having them around him.

“He won’t have to shoulder the total burden of scoring and goal-making that he has at previous tournaments.

“We have plenty of players who can score or make a goal. So if I was Wayne I’d be thinking: ‘This is looking good. I’ve got good players around me and this is a great opportunity for me.’

“I hope he’ll say: ‘I’m Wayne Rooney, I’m feeling good and I’m going to do the things that made people build me up so high.’

“He knows the expectations. He knows how much everyone who writes about or watches or discusses English football demands of him.

“I don’t think we’re going into this tournament with anything to fear in terms of Wayne’s commitment, fitness or desire.

“But the bottom line is the only person who can do something about the disappointments is Wayne himself.

“All I can say is I’m confident he’ll give us the best he’s got. And as a football coach, you can’t ever ask for more than that.”