Rooney keen to extend run

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The European Qualifier comes exactly a year since Roy Hodgson’s side opened their 2014 World Cup finals campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Italy, but they have put the disappointment of their early exit in Brazil behind them this term.

England have since claimed friendly wins over Norway and Scotland as well as drawing with Italy and the Republic of Ireland, but they have saved their best form for Euro 2016 qualifying with five wins from five games to put them six points clear of Slovenia at the top of Group E.

Captain Rooney is now aiming to bring the curtain down on a long season with another win at Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana.

“It would be great for us, certainly after the World Cup last year, to go the full season unbeaten would be a great achievement from us,” said the Manchester United striker.

“We’ve played some great football in that time and got some very important results. We need to try and finish it off now and make sure we do that on Sunday.”

Rooney expects there to be no problems with England’s fitness despite the lengthy campaign.

“There has to be (enough in the tank),” he said. “The training’s been good, we’ve worked hard, we’ve worked on how we want to play the game and the lads are focused. So we are ready for a big game.

“It might take until the 90th minute to win the game but we are ready to do that if needs to be.”

England were criticised for their performance in the drab goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last Sunday, but Rooney is confident they will put that display behind them.

“The game last week was disappointing for us all, it’s something we have to move on from,” he said.

“The most important thing is we didn’t lose the game and we are fully focused on the game on Sunday and trying to end the season with three points.”

Rooney has 47 international goals to his name and remains two short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s England record of 49, but he insists he is not thinking about personal landmarks ahead of the game.

“I think that’s the way I have been through my whole career, the team comes before I do,” he said.

“I want to try and win with the team and be successful with the team and if I pick up personal achievements with that that will be great. But first and foremost it is about making sure I help the team do well.”