Wayne Rooney is battling to erase his ‘worst-ever’ experience

Wayne Rooney has been through a string of bitter disappointments at major international tournaments but he confesses that he’s never felt pain like he experienced this summer.

England’s new skipper limped out of Euro 2004, got sent off in the 2006 World Cup, didn’t even qualify for Euro 2008 and had stinker of a 2010 World Cup.

But he reckons nothing compares to his team’s miserable showing in Brazil.

Now he’s eager to use that raw emotion to fuel his side’s bid to qualify for France 2016.

“Going out of the World Cup this time was my worst-ever moment in football,” he says.

“We went into the tournament with high hopes and we expected better of ourselves.

“The younger lads who were there also knew that feeling, and it’s not a nice one. We must make sure we never feel like that again.

“The hurt is still there but we have to move on and focus on the Euros. We have to qualify. If we get there that will help us.

“We didn’t get much time off after the World Cup, and you are still thinking of things that you could have done differently. So it’s been frustrating.

“I was just glad to get back out there again against Norway last week.

“I think it’s important that we came back after the World Cup and got that victory. But the real business starts in Switzerland tomorrow.

“We know it’s going to be tough game. But we must focus and work on things that we feel can expose them.

“We must play better than we did on Wednesday if we want to get a good result.

“There were some good signs. We played some good stuff in the first half but then started the second half quite sloppy, which was disappointing.

“Fortunately we improved, got the goal and finished the game well. I’m sure we’ll learn from that.”

Following the international retirements of first Ashley Cole prior to the World Cup, then Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the weeks that followed, Rooney has been left out on his own in terms of international appearances.

He will win his 96th cap tomorrow, while no-one in the rest of the squad has yet reached his half-century.

Given that Roy Hodgson has handed him the captaincy, it would appear Rooney only has to stay fit to break David Beckham’s record of 115 caps for an outfield player during this two-year European Championship cycle.

But the Manchester United star’s own performance against the Norwegians was as lacklustre as the team’s.

He won the game with his venomous penalty and added another goal to his tally with 41 now, he’s also closing in on Bobby Charlton all-time record of 49 but it was generally noted that England looked livelier once he’d been replaced as Daniel Sturridge’s partner by Danny Welbeck.

The injury picked up by the Liverpool man in training on Friday means that there’s no pressure on Hodgson to leave out his new skipper tomorrow.

But if Welbeck’s £16m move from Old Trafford to Arsenal makes him a regular Premier League goalscorer, that situation will change particularly if Radamel Falcao’s arrival at United begins to impact on Rooney’s goals, games or position.

The player himself is well aware of the threat posed by Welbeck. Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson famously dropped him in favour of the younger player in a crucial Champions League game against Real Madrid the season before last.

But as befits his new responsibilities as captain, Rooney is very diplomatic about the competition he provides.

“The manager picks the players and whether it’s me and Daniel Sturridge or me and Danny Welbeck or those two together, it’s the manager’s decision,” he says.

“We all want to be playing and doing well for England. We’re all ready to give our all for the team whoever plays.

“Danny has already played a real role for England in the past, and I’m sure that if he plays regularly up front for Arsenal that can only benefit him and us.

“He’s an impact player because he’s so quick and he can score goals. He’s a Manchester boy but he obviously felt he had to move. It was a big moment for him. He’s had to make a big decision.

“We’re great friends. He was terrific around the dressing-room and everyone at United respected him. We’ll miss him and we wish him all the best.

“Of course, all the younger lads have to step up now. There are big expectations playing for England and we all understand that.

“You see these young players week-in week-out for their clubs, but what we need now is for them to bring that form to England.

“It’s difficult to lose the likes of Frank, Stevie and Ashley. They were massive players for us over the years.

“The captaincy is a great honour and something that made me extremely proud. I’m grateful for the manager giving me the opportunity.

“Obviously it’s a young squad and, as captain, you have to take more responsibility and be a role model.

“But once you’re on the pitch, it’s not so different. You’re out there with your team-mates trying to help each other to win the game.

“I’ve worked with some fantastic captains in the past. I’ll take the qualities from them and try to add my own.

“I’ll be myself as captain. I’m always very demanding of myself and I love playing for my country. I want to be a successful captain and I want this team to be successful.”