Wayne Rooney has admitted that his lowest point in football came in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final encounter against Portugal, which saw him sent off.
Having won a race against time to be fit for the competition, Rooney never reached his potential in Germany and his tournament ended in controversial style as erstwhile Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo played a role in the dismissal, with the Portuguese caught winking after his Old Trafford colleague was dismissed for a second-half stamp.
Rooney, though, has admitted that he was in the wrong and revealed that he was quick to forgive his fellow attacker.
“There was a clear foul, the former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho was pulling and pushing me and Petit came in from the other side,” Rooney wrote in his column for The Times.
“Referee Horacio Elizondo did nothing and I planted my foot down on Carvalho — it one of those moments when you’re not thinking.
“I knew it was a red card and back in the dressing room I watched the rest of the game on a little TV, thinking: 'If we win this, I’m suspended for a World Cup semi-final and final and if we lose it’s my fault.' It was the worst, weirdest feeling I’ve had in football.
“I had my phone in my hand and I was getting all these messages about Ronaldo. Of course, when he ran over to ask Elizondo to send me off I pushed him away. In that moment I couldn’t believe what he was doing. But sitting in that dressing room gave me time to calm down and think.
“I put myself in Ronaldo’s shoes. Would I do the same? Probably. Would I be in the ref’s face to make sure he got sent off? If he deserved the red, if it would help us win — yes, no question. I’d do it tomorrow. I thought: ‘Actually, I tried to get him booked in the first half for diving.’ And the wink thing, I didn’t see anything in that at all. It was nothing.
“So I calmed down. I went over to him afterwards in the tunnel. I felt it was important to speak to him while it was still fresh and to do it face to face. He gave me a look as if to say sorry but by then I had my United head on. I said I’ve no issues with you. Enjoy your tournament and good luck. I’ll see you in a few weeks — and let’s go try and win the league.”
England subsequently lost on penalties after a scoreless draw, with Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all failing from 12 yards as Ronaldo converted the decisive kick for a 3-1 success.
FootballKingCR7
467
Rooney and Ronaldo duo was the deadliest weapon Manchester United ever had. I'm glad Rooney didn't take it personal and remained a true professional.
Biriubiriu
356
Ronaldo is an inspiration, even though they are teammates in club but he will always do anything for his country to win. He doesn't pretend, he did what was right, obviously that is a red card. If you think what he did was bad, then ur problem is bigger than what u can handle.
iambobbyvinxie
217
Honestly I believed This incident really turned their relationship sour... because Ronaldo was booed on his return to England.. and since then Rooney has always chosen Messi over Ronaldo which was the opposite before
Andy_Mac
206
I know it seems bad when your club teammate tries to get you sent off in a World Cup game. But such is the level of competition and both these footballers are ambitious and determined to win for the national team. It's the competitive nature of the sport. We have to respect both these lads. Play hard but fair.
yaucknpsu
111
I have always read more stories about Rooney. when the police caught him drunk while driving, later on in the court he confessed that he was wrong and apologized and in this Ronaldo case again he analysed his own actions and he found that he was was responsible for his own wrongdoings and again he went on to apologise to his teammate. I think Rooney has got something special about him, coz he is such a wonderful soul and never hold grudges. Good luck to Wayne Rooney in his coaching career.