Rooney will have 'no excuses' in Brazil

Wayne Rooney has said there will be no excuses if he fails to perform for England at the 2014 World Cup.

Rooney's last two World Cups have been undermined by injuries and he is yet to score in eight matches at the finals.

But the Manchester United forward, 28, insists he is fully fit following a recent groin injury and ready to play to his maximum in Brazil.

quote I believe we can go far. I believe we've got the players and our aim is to win the tournament

He said: "I'm in the best condition. I want to show the world what I can do. There will be no excuses if I don't."

Rooney went into the 2006 World Cup finals recovering from a broken bone in his foot before being sent off in England's quarter-final defeat by Portugal.

His build-up to the 2010 tournament in South Africa was hampered by an ankle problem, but Rooney says his current well-being means now is the time he must produce his best form.

"Obviously I've been here before and I've said what I feel I can deliver and what I can do and it hasn't happened," he said.

"I think this is the one where I have to show what I can do and I believe I'm in the best possible shape. I want to show the world what I can do and I really believe this is the time to do it.

"I'm ready for it, excited for it. There will be no excuses this time if I don't perform. I certainly won't be looking for any excuses this time.

"I've no issues whatsoever and I'm ready for this tournament. I want to give everything, leave everything on the pitch and as I've said before I won't have any excuses this time if it doesn't come off for me."

Rooney was accompanied by a physio on a family holiday, after missing the end of the season with a groin injury, to ensure he was able to start training immediately with the England squad at their camp in Portugal.

"Obviously I missed the last few games of the season and I wanted to make sure I was ready and available to train when the team met up and that was the reason behind it," he said.

Paul Scholes on Wayne Rooney "After an indifferent season, the England management team has to get the best from Wayne Rooney for the World Cup. "He's got a brilliant scoring record for his country with 38 goals in 89 internationals, but he's played in eight World Cup games without a goal. You expect more of him. "If Wayne is going to be one of the best footballers in the world, this World Cup is where he has to produce." Read more from Scholes on his Paddy Power blog external-link

"It certainly helped me get up to speed again and obviously join in with the team again first day, where if I didn't do that I'd maybe have to do two or three days here with the physios and fitness coaches before I could join in."

Rooney is yet to get past the quarter-finals at a World Cup with Germany beating England at the last-16 stage in 2010.

But with manager Roy Hodgson picking several young players in his 23-man squad, Rooney is confident about England's prospects in Brazil, where they will face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Goup D.

He added: "I believe we can go far. I believe we've got the players and our aim is to win the tournament.

"We don't want to go there saying we'll be happy getting to the quarter-final, even the semi-final. Our aim is to win the tournament and that's what we are preparing for. That's what we hope can happen and with a bit of luck you never know, we could do.

"Everyone can feel the excitement around the squad that Roy's picked.

"Certainly I'm excited to play with these players. And to go to the biggest tournament with such a young squad and so much energy, so much pace in the squad, which I don't believe we've had in previous tournaments. It will be great for us and I believe we can do well."