England striker Wayne Rooney is confident that he will be fully healthy in their upcoming campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Rooney, who will be tasked to carry the young England squad on his shoulders, missed Manchester United's final three English Premier League games due to a groin injury.

In the last two World Cups, Rooney's health slowed him down in their first few matches, but this time, the 28-year-old striker is convinced that he will be fully fit before the tournament starts on June 12.

"Previously I have always been going into the first game looking for fitness and it's difficult to get your breathing right and the rest of it," Rooney told the Daily Mail. "This time I honestly feel good. I have looked after myself as well as I can to be as fit as I can for this tournament."

Rooney almost missed England's 2006 World Cup campaign, but he was rushed back from a metatarsal injury. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Rooney played through pain, but his performances were obviously affected by his hurting ankle.

"I will be ready. I'm looking forward to it," Rooney said. "I really want to be 100 percent fit this time and, barring an injury in training before we go, I will be totally ready."

Rooney and the rest of the Three Lions squad will have a tough task ahead of them as they were drawn with Italy, Uruguay, and Costa Rica in Group D, which is considered by many as one of the toughest groups in the tournament.

Expectations are not as high as before, though, considering the fact that they were drawn into a strong group, but Rooney, who has 89 caps and 39 international goals, is confident that they can surprise skeptics in Brazil.

"There is a great mix and I think we can surprise people," Rooney said of their young squad. "It's exciting. I believe we can go all the way in Brazil, I really believe that. We have a great group of young players. It's going to be difficult. There is a chance we could go out at the group stage but I really believe we have a group good enough to go a long way."

Related