Hodgson: Rooney can still shine for England at World Cup

Rooney's place in the England team has come under scrutiny recently after a number of indifferent displays, the latest of which came in the 2-1 defeat to Italy in Manaus.

Hodgson refused to agree with the idea that Rooney is an "exceptional" player during England's World Cup training camp in Miami.

That was interpreted as a sign that Hodgson's confidence in Rooney is on the wane, but, on the eve of England's crucial Group D match in Sao Paulo, the England manager gave his backing to the Manchester United man.

"He came into this tournament wanting to do very well and I think he will do very well in the tournament," said Hodgson.

"Wayne has got broad shoulders. He's getting a lot of support from everyone around him.

"We've got a very clear perspective as to what Wayne is and what Wayne can do. We're hoping for big things from him."

Paul Scholes has been Rooney's most surprising critic of late, claiming prior to the World Cup that his former team-mate might be past his best. But Hodgson will not listen to the naysayers. The England manager is expected to start Rooney in Sao Paulo, possibly down the middle, rather than on the left, where he played against Italy.

Hodgson has every reason to give Rooney his backing. After all, Rooney scored seven goals in qualifying, including the vital header that put England ahead in their must-win clash against Poland in October.

"He's been the top assist player in my two years as England manager and he has more goals than everyone else," Hodgson said.

"Were it not for his wonderful header against Poland we might not even be here."

As it stands, victories against Uruguay, who have Liverpool's Luis Suarez available after he recovered from a knee injury, and Costa Rica would definitely send England through.

If England drew tonight and won their final group game, they would need Italy to beat Costa Rica and Uruguay to progress.

A loss in Sao Paulo would leave England needing a huge goal difference swing, and other results to go their way, to make it through to the second round.Hodgson is targeting two wins, but he thinks four points may be enough.

"We realise it's not as drastic as two must-win games, you can get through with four points, but we are not really counting on that," the 66-year-old said.

Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, has warned his England team-mates they are likely to be in for a long and miserable summer if they do not beat Uruguay on Thursday.

Gerrard, along with vice-captain Frank Lampard and Hodgson, addressed the squad at their hotel 24 hours after the 2-1 defeat to Italy and the message from the skipper was clear.

Gerrard told the 22 attentive faces in the audience that they, for the most part, played well in Manaus, but he also reminded them they are now on the brink of a World Cup exit.

"It was important for them to realise what is at stake and how important this game is," the England captain said.

"We have got a must-win scenario. It wasn't a message to scare any of the lads but a wake-up call to everyone in the room."

Gerrard knows better than anyone in the squad what it is like to go home from a major tournament early.

The list of premature exits in Gerrard's international career is as long as it is disappointing. In Euro 2000, he was part of Kevin Keegan's squad that failed to make it out of their group.

He then experienced heartbreaking back-to-back penalty shoot-out defeats in 2004 and 2006.

And his last two tournaments have ended in disappointing second-round exits.

It could be a terrible long, frustrating summer if we don't get it right on Thursday," the Liverpool midfielder said.

"There is no hiding place for a player when you go out of a tournament. It can be tough and it can take an awful long time to get over it.

"I have been there. I know what that feeling is about and that is the feeling that I don't want come Friday morning.

"We need everyone focused and right on it on Thursday, otherwise it will be a terrible, long summer."