World Cup player Wayne Rooney reveals his snooker skill

Coming over to England's training camp we played the daily game of guessing which player the FA would put up for interview.

They could have played it safe, maybe chucked in a squad member who wasn't likely to start against Algeria on Friday.

Instead, we found out shortly before that it was Wayne Rooney. Oh yes.

I first spoke to Wayne a few years ago and he's really grown into himself since then.

Maybe it's getting older, maybe it's becoming a Dad, but he seems a lot more relaxed and confident with the press than when he burst on to the international scene.

So first question - are you fit? As in ready to play. The answer was a resounding yes.

OK, so he faded a bit against the USA and picked up a knock this week, but there's no doubt he's still England's most dangerous weapon and they need him at 100%.

Any problems with your temperament?

No, and Don Fabio (Capello, obviously), hasn't spoken to him individually about it either.

Plus, Wazza knows his stuff - he pointed out to us reporters that the last time he got a yellow card in a competitive England game was against Russia in 2007.

Useful one for pub quizzes, that.

And what about all this Franz Beckenbauer stuff about "England going backwards to the bad old days of kick and rush?"

Roundly dismissed by the England striker. Then I asked the really serious stuff - who's the king of the snooker table?

You probably won't be surprised to find out that it's Wayne.

He and John Terry are undefeated in doubles, and no one's challenged them that much.

But despite all the mod cons and creature comforts in their plush five star hotel in Rustenburg, cabin fever is starting to hit and the squad can't wait to head to Cape Town on Thursday (17 June).

If Rooney's motivated and involved on Friday night he'll light up that stadium and Algeria won't know what's hit them. Fingers crossed, then.

David's diary: Carragher's hopes

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