International career

Rooney became the youngest player to play for England when he earned his first cap in a friendly against Australia on 12 February 2003 at seventeen,[130] the same age at which he also became the youngest player to score an England goal.[131] Arsenal youngster Theo Walcott broke Rooney's appearance record by 36 days in May 2006.
His first tournament action was at Euro 2004, in which he became the youngest scorer in competition history on 17 June 2004, when he scored twice against Switzerland;[133] however, this record was topped by Swiss midfielder Johan Vonlanthen four days later.[134] Rooney suffered an injury in the quarter-final match against Portugal and England were eliminated on penalties.[135]
Following a foot injury in an April 2006 Premier League match, Rooney faced a race to fitness for the 2006 World Cup.[136] England attempted to hasten his recovery with the use of an oxygen tent,[137] which allowed Rooney to enter a group match against Trinidad and Tobago[138] and start the next match against Sweden.[139] However, he never got back into game shape and went scoreless as England bowed out in the quarter-finals, again on penalty kicks.[140]


Rooney training with England in September 2009
Rooney was red-carded in the 62nd minute of the quarter-final for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho as both attempted to gain possession of the ball, an incident that occurred right in front of referee Horacio Elizondo.[141] Rooney's Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo openly protested his actions, and was in turn shoved by Rooney.[141] Elizondo sent Rooney off, after which Ronaldo was seen winking at the Portugal bench.[141] Rooney denied intentionally targeting Carvalho in a statement on 3 July, adding, "I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but I'm disappointed that he chose to get involved. I suppose I do, though, have to remember that on that particular occasion we were not teammates."[142] Elizondo confirmed the next day that Rooney was dismissed solely for the infraction on Carvalho.[143] Rooney was fined CHF5,000 for the incident.[144]
During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, after England drew with Algeria, the England players were booed off the pitch by supporters. Rooney made a comment as he left the pitch to television cameras saying, "Nice to see your home fans boo you, that's loyal supporters".[145] He later apologised for the comment,[146] made during a lacklustre tournament for England who were eliminated in the second round.