MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 23:53:35| >> :60:1297:1297:

Wayne Rooney expects tough Italy test

Rooney expects tough Italy test
© PA Photos
England striker Wayne Rooney expects Italy to provide tough opposition when they meet in Sunday's Euro 2012 quarter-final.

Wayne Rooney has admitted that England face a tough quarter-final clash with Italy when they meet at Euro 2012 on Sunday.

Rooney's goal in a 1-0 win over co-hosts Ukraine on Tuesday night was enough to send the Three Lions through to the last eight of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Italy finished second in Group B behind defending champions Spain.

"It'll be a tough game, they're quite similar to us in the way they play," Rooney told the Football Association's official website.

"They've got match winners in Balotelli, Cassano and Pirlo. They've got some great players, and it's going to be a really tough game.

"I'd say it's 50-50 going into the game, so we'll have to make sure we get everything right in order for us to win it."

England's first and only encounter with Italy at a European Championship was in 1980 when the Azzurri ran out 1-0 winners in the group stages.

ID:31632: cacheID:31632:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1934:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Coleen Rooney
Read Next:
Sports Mole's WAG of the week: Coleen Rooney
>
Read more about Wayne Rooney Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!