Source: Team_Talk
Hahnemann: Roo can handle pressure
USA goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is backing Wayne Rooney to cope with the "extreme pressure" he is under to lead England to World Cup glory.[LNB] Hahnemann is aware of the massive expectation levels always resting on Rooney's shoulders to deliver the goods for club and country.[LNB]But the veteran Wolves player believes Rooney will be able to deal with the demands ahead of England's opener with the USA in Rustenburg on Saturday.[LNB]Hahnemann, who made three fine saves in the USA's 3-1 win over Australia on Saturday, said: "The whole England team are under extreme amounts of pressure.[LNB]"I am never under that sort of pressure. You can go out wherever you want. Everyone doesn't recognise you.[LNB]"With someone like Wayne Rooney, you have that fan pressure as well where they cannot make any mistakes at all.[LNB]"Everyone was saying 'if Wayne Rooney doesn't play well, Man Utd are not going to win the championship' - and all season it was like that.[LNB]"Now, with the World Cup, there is a lot of weight on his shoulders but they have so many good players.[LNB]"I think Wayne can cope with it. We have all watched him grow up. When he first played for Everton, you could see that he was such a good player.[LNB]"Now this season it seems like he has got everything. It will be great to see how he does in the World Cup."[LNB]Hahnemann also feels Rooney has matured since his red card against Portugal during the 2006 World Cup.[LNB]He said: "You could tell when he was going to get booked.[LNB]"You would watch him chase and run around, felt that he was going to 'kill' someone, and sure enough, 45 seconds later he was getting booked.[LNB]"That is under control but then I had that temperament when I was a young kid.[LNB]"Now you manage it, stay cooler and I play better and Wayne has done the same thing."[LNB]Hahnemann is backing Michael Dawson to be a ready-made replacement for injured skipper Rio Ferdinand who has been ruled out of the tournament with his knee problem.[LNB]He said: "Rio is a leader but I've seen Dawson play and I'd take him on my team anyway.[LNB]"He is a good player - even though Wolves beat Tottenham twice last season."
