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| Wayne Rooney preached the need for a strong team ethic after England qualified for Euro 2016 |
WAYNE ROONEY has told the younger England players to cancel their holidays, keep their heads down and work hard right the way through to Euro 2016.
England became the first team to qualify for next summer's tournament courtesy of a 6-0 drubbing of San Marino in Serravalle in which Rooney's opening penalty saw him draw level with Sir Bobby Robson as the nation's leading goalscorer on 49 goals.
Rooney has made no bones about the fact he values winning a major championship with his country above any medal and, as captain, is determined to play his part in ensuring England are at their very best come the finals - both physically and mentally.
Four years ago, Rooney was banned for the opening two games of the tournament and was advised by Roy Hodgson to take a break to recharge his batteries.
But he feels he lost his edge on a trip to Las Vegas - a holiday he now regrets - and suggests this time players should keep their focus throughout the four-week period between the end of the domestic season and the start of the tournament on June 10.
"The preparations are something we are working on as a team together, with the coaching staff, with the players," said Rooney. "We know we can't go into a tournament like we did last year and go out the way we did.
"If we are going to be successful we need to find the way we are going to do that and it's something we're working on.
"The training camps have been right but the senior lads will sit down with the manager and the staff organising the tournament to work out what we can do better.
"I know, personally, when I was suspended before the Euros I went away on holiday, which looking back I regret. It's something I've learned. At the time, I thought it was no problem and now I know I obviously shouldn't have done it.
"It's the flights and the jet-lag. I was there with my family but flying so far it takes a while to get over the jet-lag. Maybe not having a long break between the season finishing is probably the best thing.
"I'll certainly get my part right this time and, as a team, will are all building to being successful.
"And we've already discussed that with the rest of the team. I don't think we'll have that long off before the tournament so the lads won't have the option to go too far."
England can begin their preparations against Switzerland tomorrow, with testing friendlies against France, Spain, Germany, Holland and Italy lined up in addition to the final three qualifiers.
"It starts now," said Rooney. "It's good we have some tough friendlies coming up - it will be a chance for us to show ourselves against good nations and good teams.
"I believe we have a very good squad of players and I believe we have got to go and prove that - especially for some of the lads who haven't been to tournaments.
"We need to go and play against better teams and better players and get confidence from doing it."
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