Source: Daily_Mail
I'll be 32 and raring to go, says Rooney as United star Wayne joins Becks and Brown at launch of Eng
Wayne Rooney has set his sights on playing for England on home soil at the 2018 World Cup.
England kicked off their campaign to host the tournament in either 2018 or 2022 with a launch party at Wembley Stadium today.
Rooney announced his arrival on the international stage at Euro 2004 and aims to still be on the scene 14 years later.
The striker has plenty of examples to follow among his team-mates at Manchester United of how to stay at the top of the game well into his 30s.
Ryan Giggs, at 35, was named PFA Player of the Year for this season, while 34-year-old Paul Scholes also played his part in United's Barclays Premier League triumph.
Both have already retired from international football, though, but Rooney does not want to miss the chance to play in a World Cup on home turf.
He said: "I will be 32. When you look at some of the players playing for Manchester United, like Giggs and Scholes, hopefully I can keep myself fit."
And the former Everton man feels the passion displayed by England fans gives the country's bid an advantage.
He added: "The pride and passion of the fans and players is something that cannot be matched by any other team. Hopefully we can bring the World Cup back to England."
POTENTIAL HOST CITIES:
London: Stadia to feature include Emirates, Twickenham, new White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge
Portsmouth: Plans for a new 45,000 stadium near Port Solent were put on hold last month but will be resurrected for 2018.
Bristol: London architects HOK were appointed in February to design a new 30,000 arena in the Ashton Vale area of the city.
Milton Keynes: The only town on the list already has a 22,000-capacity stadium that can be increased by 8,000
seats.
Birmingham: Villa Park is already one of the best grounds in the country and has hosted FA Cup semi-finals with a 42,500 capacity.
Leicester: Walkers Stadium holds 32,500 and could be increased to 40,000 with another tier built on to the East Stand.
Derby: An additional tier on the North, East and South Stands at Pride Park would increase the capacity from 33,597 to 44,000.
Nottingham: A new 45,000 home for Forest is going to be built by 2014 in Clifton and is expected to be named the Brian Clough Arena.
Hull: The KC Stadium holds 24,404 and will be increased by 12,000 should Hull City remain in the Premier League.
Sheffield: United's Bramall Lane holds 32,702 or Wednesday's Hillsborough may be used with its 39,814 capacity.
Leeds: Showed their ability to host top-flight football when 37,000 turned up to watch the play-off with Millwall at Elland Road.
Manchester: Two world-class stadia are already in the city with Old Trafford (76,000) the biggest club ground in Britain.
Liverpool: Both Liverpool and Everton have plans to build new grounds before 2018, providing the economy picks up.
Sunderland: The Stadium of Light is easily enlarged. Holds 49,000 but can accommodate another 11,000 seats.
Newcastle: St James' Park is the third-biggest stadium in the country with a capacity of 52,000.
David Beckham, England's most capped outfield player, will certainly not still be playing come 2018, but he too has thrown his weight behind the bid.
The midfielder said the best players in Europe admired the atmosphere at stadiums throughout England.
"There is no bigger support than our fans. The passion that's shown in our country every time someone either puts an England shirt on or any time they play for their club, there are full stadiums everywhere," he said.
"Every time that I played with some of the biggest players in the world - players like (Zinedine) Zidane and Ronaldo - one of the first questions that they all asked me is what is it like playing in England and how much they like the passion that the fans show.
"The passion does not just stop at Premiership level, it goes from Sunday League level and it goes all the way through every league that we've got up to the Premiership."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and England midfielder David Beckham were at the launch, and there was a video message from Prince William.
World Cup bid leaders will be stressing the quality of the stadia, the fans in England and the economic benefits.
They will also be at pains to avoid any suggestion that it is England's turn to be hosts.
Football Association chairman Lord Triesman, who is the bid chairman, stressed England's infrastructure and the economic benefits of hosting the World Cup.
Triesman said: 'We in England would be truly honoured to host the World Cup and welcome the world.
'We have first-class grounds. We've got good transport links, domestically and internationally. We've got excellent accommodation.
RIVAL BIDSRUSSIA: Footballing powerhouse but has never hosted tournament.
HOLLAND/BELGIUM: Euro2000 hosts but FIFA are sceptical about joint bids.
SPAIN/PORTUGAL: Spain is prepared to marginalise Euro2004 host if needed.
MEXICO: Twice hosted tournament but has since built many new stadia.
USA: World Cup 94 host and has Obama support but still not a football nation.
AUSTRALIA: Growing enthusiasm for football and hosted Olympics in 2000.
JAPAN: Has the infrastructure but only recently hosted tournament, in 2002.
WHAT'S NEXT:
Dec 11, 2009: Deadline to submit bids.
May 14, 2010: Submission to FIFA of bid book and all other documents.
Dec 2010: 2018, 2022 hosts named.
'A World Cup in England would be a truly memorable event - not only for our nation but for every nation.
'We'd extend a wonderful welcome to players and fans from across the world.
'Inside and outside our grounds, we'd share with them our love of the game and our sense of fair play.
'And they would enjoy our diverse culture - one that means England would provide a home-from-home welcome for every fan and player.'
Lord Triesman claimed the passion for football in England was key to the bid. He added: 'We believe that England can stage a fantastic festival of football, one that will engage the whole country and deliver positive change for football in England and across the world.
'Now we must persuade our international friends and colleagues of our case. It's easy to say, far less easy to do.
'Our starting point is England's passion for football. It is our national sport, we have a strong football heritage which runs through every town and city.
'Every week hundreds of thousand of fans watch games and millions of people across the world and millions in this country - men women and children - play from pub sides to school teams to the FA Premier League and all of them -hundreds of million of worldwide know the FIFA World Cup is the global pinnacle of the game.'
