Wayne Rooney believes that England can win Euro 2012despite their difficult build-up to the tournament and insists that he knows that he is not guaranteed a place in the team once he returns from suspension.
The Three Lions go into the championships in Poland and Ukraine with perhaps the lowest expectations of many years, despite a superb qualifying campaign.
After sealing their place at the tournament last October, England have been plagued by problems following the resignation of former boss Fabio Capello and new coach Roy Hodgson will be without a number of his key men due to injury.
However, Rooney believes the squad is still strong enough to compete and says he is expecting ‘big things’.
"We are trying and no-one should even think we are just turning up," said Rooney. "Sometimes when you lose, you have to hold your hands up.
"But when you look at our squad, I don't see why we can't win it. There have been a lot of changes but I will expect big things.”
The Manchester United striker will miss his side’s first two group games against France and Sweden after being suspended following his sending off in the final qualification match in Montenegro.
This is one of the reason there is so much doom and gloom around the camp as without Rooney, a number of pundits have suggested that England might struggle to find the net.
However, the 26-year-old has rejected these claims and believes he may find it difficult to get back into the team for the final pool game against co-hosts Ukraine.
"It is the price I have to pay for making that mistake,” he continued. "It happened and I have to accept it. I will just prepare myself as if I was playing and hopefully comeback into a winning team."
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