Rooney out to make amends

Published: 13 Sep 2009 - 11:41:11

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Wayne Rooney is determined to erase the memories of the last time he appeared at a World Cup next summer in South Africa. The Manchester United striker was sent off in the quarter-final after being adjudged to have stamped on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho in Germany 2006. The 23-year-old had to sit and watch from the stands as England saw their World Cup dreams evaporate as they lost on penalties to the Portuguese. However, after helping confirm England's place at next summer's finals with the fifth goal in the 5-1 mauling of Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday, Rooney insists he is a more mature player than he was just over three years ago. "It was not what I would have wished for," he told the Sunday Mirror. "I was devastated with the way it ended. I worked really hard to get there and to get sent-off and knocked out in that game was disappointing. "I've matured a lot since the last World Cup as a player and hopefully it will be better this time."