Wayne Rooney issues rallying cry as defiant star aims to knock out the Germans

The defiant striker promised the Three Lions would draw on all their fighting spirit to knock our old foe out of the contest and warned Joachim Loew’s side: “We’re not scared of you.”

As thousands of excited England fans poured into Bloemfontein ahead of the last 16 knockout match, Roo – who was a keen boxer in his youth – said: “I thought the Germans looked good in their first match, but they are beatable and I am confident.

“Winning, that’s why I love football so much, it is all about winning. I have seen nothing to be afraid of.”

Rooney, 24, may have failed to sparkle in the competition so far, but England fans hope he will rediscover the blistering form that terrifies defenders. And veteran goalkeeper David James is convinced Roo, who last scored for England in September’s Wembley 5-1 qualifing rout against Croatia, will use tomorrow’s match as the springboard to do just that.

He said: “This is the platform for him, I am sure Wayne would like to make this his game.
“It is about the team winning, but Wayne’s contribution in our match against Slovenia was superb.”

James is also confident England can dump Germany out of the contest in 90 minutes, meaning we won’t face a dreaded penalty shoot-out against the most clinical spot kickers in the world. But he said he will be closely studying the penalty techniques of our opponents so he is 100% ready should the match end in a draw.

The 39-year-old added: “It is all about doing the homework.

“I watched the videos on three sides we have faced already.

“In a shoot-out there will be five of their regular penalty takers and I will be looking at that. I will be ready.

“Germany have not lost in a shoot out, but it is our intention to win in 90 minutes. We have confidence. We went to Berlin a couple of years ago and won 2-1, we can do it.”