Wayne Rooney spoke exclusively to Sky Sports about Englands perfect qualifying campaign, their chances at Euro 2016 and his time as captain. Roy Hodgson named a 26-man squad for Englands Euro 2016 preparation friendlies against Turkey and Australia at the end of this month, and Rooney is more hopeful than ever that this could be their year.Here, he speaks with Sky Sports News HQs Nick Collins about Englands progress since the World Cup in 2014, as well as looking back at a successful European Qualifiers campaign and why there is plenty of optimism for the future... Rooney more hopeful than ever England a match for anyone at Euro 2016, says skipper On Englands 2-0 win in Switzerland after the World Cup...It was a big game for us. Wed obviously lost Steven Gerrard after the World Cup, and it was a change for us. Roy made me captain, and we knew how important it was, coming off the World Cup. There was a lot of pressure going into the game on Roy himself, and to get the victory in the way we did, we played a different style of football than we played over the previous two years and it worked. It was more exciting to watch and more enjoyable to play in. Included in Englands 100 per cent European Qualifiers campaign was a fine win in Switzerland On Englands 10 out of 10 European Qualifiers record...We mentioned it after the Switzerland game, we didnt want to get carried away. We had a good strong [group] of young players and we felt it was achievable.We knew it would be tough to do, but once that got close again, we felt that if we got 10 wins out of 10 it would stand us in good stead going into the tournament. It was something we aimed for and achieved. I know the players and manager were really happy, it showed a great consistency. Roy Hodgson has announced his England squad ahead of Euro 2016 On becoming England captain...I felt I was the natural successor to Steven as captain, and the manager did too. Its something I was delighted to do, and I want to do it to be successful as well. Its something I really take pride in and want to do to the best of my ability. I think the young lads in the squad have helped a lot, I feel its an exciting time for English football with the squad we have.To be a leader of those players, and to try and direct them in the right way, both on and off the pitch, is something I want to be successful at. I put a lot of effort in to do that. Rooney became England captain after the World Cup in Brazil The manager involves me in a lot of decisions. Obviously theres myself, and then weve put a team together with a few of the other senior players. If decisions on behalf of the team need making, I will go to those players, talk through it and decide what is best for the team. But of course, you have to be a role model and ambassador for the country, and thats what Ive tried to do to the best of my ability. QUIZ: England Euros squads Test your knowledge of previous England Euros squad announcements with this tricky quiz... On adapting his game...As a player you are always adapting. You adapt to your team-mates, you adapt to the different coaches you are working under. It depends what the coaches want from you.Throughout my career Ive adapted to different situations and different teams Ive played in, and I have no problem doing it. In football you need players who can play in different positions. Ive always felt like I can play in different positions. Roy Hodgson thinks Rooney is key for England but admits he doesnt have to pick him in the starting XI On his preferred position...Obviously I want to play as striker but Ive always believed I am capable of playing in different positions. I think you saw in World Cup 2006 with Owen Hargreaves, he was probably Englands best player, purely for the fact he could play in different positions.To have players like that in your squad is really important. The good thing that Roy has now is that he can look at the opponents and pick a midfield which is best for beating the opponent. We havent always had that.He could change the whole 11 if he had to now, and we would still have the chance of winning the game. Jamie Carragher thinks Rooney may have to play in midfield to make room for Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy On Englands attacking options...Weve got players who can play anywhere across that front line. Myself, Jamie Vardy, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge can play out wide too. Its always difficult for opponent as well.Its going to be tough for the manager as well, Im sure, to decide which players he will play in which games. But thats why hes manager, Im sure he will make the right decision when it comes to it.Experience is important, but the youth and energy of the other players is equally as important. The England captain is keen to be a leader for the incoming younger players On Englands chances at Euro 2016...I feel weve got a very good squad. Its probably the first time Ive felt the squad is capable in any given game of matching any team. But obviously its one thing having that, and another being able to do that consistently throughout a tournament.You never know with the players weve got how well they can do. You saw in the last World Cup we went out at the group stage. Weve had a good Euro Qualifiers campaign, but we need to make sure that we dont slack, that we keep going and keep pushing forward, and give ourselves every possible chance.On the Wayne Rooney Foundation...Its all about sick children but also about children who need a better start in life. Obviously, having three children myself I felt they were the most important charities to raise money for. Its something Im extremely proud to be able to do and Id like to thank Manchester United for giving me the opportunity to be able to do that. Hopefully the money raised can change a lot of peoples lives. Paul Scholes evaluates Englands chances at Euro 2016 Also See: Rashford, Wilshere called up Rooney wants midfield role QUIZ: England Euros squads Euro 2016 news Vince Biegel Jersey . -- What Anthony Jennings lacked in experience, LSU more than compensated for with a talented supporting cast in the Outback Bowl. Marcedes Lewis Jersey . Notes on P.K. Subban, Dale Weise, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Bryzgalov and more. http://www.officialgreenbaypackersfootba...e-jersey-womens. -- LeBron James warned the Orlando Magic to stop double-teaming him and ignoring James Jones. Mason Crosby Jersey . The $145.7-million Tim Hortons Field was slated to open this month, a year before it was to host all 32 mens and womens soccer competitions. The delay has forced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team to use a smaller facility for the first two home games of the season. Quinten Rollins Jersey . – Team Canadas Brooke Henderson carded a 4-under 67 at Craigowan Golf and Country Club to jump into the lead at the Canadian Womens Amateur Championship on Wednesday.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Connecticut and Kentucky couldnt have met in last years championship game and few people gave them a chance to be in this years. Seventh-seeded Connecticut and eighth-seeded Kentucky meet Monday night in one of the unlikeliest NCAA championship games ever. Watch the game live on TSN at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt. Neither was around in last years post-season -- Connecticut because of a tournament ban over academic issues; Kentucky because it didnt make the field. And neither looked like national title contenders at times this season. Kentucky (29-10) and its outstanding freshmen went from preseason No. 1 to out of the rankings after some bad losses. And Connecticut (31-8) was not a popular post-season pick after finishing tied for third in the American Athletic Conference with multiple losses to Louisville and SMU. In the tournament, the Huskies have stopped some of the countrys top guards and put themselves in position for their fourth national championship, the previous three under Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. "Hopefully we have an opportunity to fall back on our defence," second-year coach Kevin Ollie said. "We have been doing that the whole year." If Kentucky has a chance to win in the final minute, that defence better pay attention to guard Aaron Harrison, one of five freshmen starters. He has hit huge 3-pointers in the Wildcats last three games. Harrison rattled in a 26-footer with 5.7 seconds to go in the 74-73 win over Wisconsin in the semifinals. He made almost the exact same shot with 2.3 seconds left against Michigan for a 75-72 win that sent the Wildcats to the Final Four. Against Louisville, he hit a 3 with 39 seconds left to give Kentucky the lead for good in a 74-69. "The biggest thing is hes not afraid to miss," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "Hes OK with it. Hes comfortable in his own skin. ... If youre going to make those kind of shots, you absolutely cannot be afraid to miss them." These two programs have combined to win six of the last 18 NCAA titles. "Playing against Connectiicut, I mean, Im just happy were still playing," Calipari said.dddddddddddd Neither program could say that last year. Connecticut was banned from the post-season after failing to meet NCAA academic standard. It had practice limitations and lost a scholarship. The players could have transferred but didnt. The Huskies finished 20-10 in Ollies first year. They took the hit and made it back to the biggest stage. "Its actually very impressive," NCAA president Mark Emmert said Sunday. "To see that team hold together. I think its a commitment to those young men on that team that hung together." The leader of the group is All-American Shabazz Napier who leads the team in almost every statistical category. Hes the guy who makes the big shot or big pass. Fellow guard Ryan Boatright has taken some of the spotlight recently for his defensive performances against the likes of Keith Appling of Michigan State and Scottie Wilbekin of Florida. "Defence is the biggest thing for me. The points will come," Boatright said. "I want to make him uncomfortable, dont let him get in a rhythm or flow. Their guards, God blessed them with height and they will try to take advantage of smaller guys like us but Ive been the smaller guy my whole life and Ive never backed down." Kentucky is playing its best basketball lately, led by big man Julius Randle and the Harrison twins. "We just had too much talent and we saw in spurts how good we could be," Randle said, "so it just felt like it was a matter of time before it clicked." This is Caliparis fourth Final Four, but the first two -- Massachusetts in 1996 and Memphis in 2008 -- were vacated over NCAA rules violations. Now the Wildcats are on an 11-game winning streak in the NCAA tournament and they are one win from a ninth national championship for Kentucky. "We all play the game of basketball to compete against the best," Napier said. "This is one of them games. ... They worked hard to get to this point and we did too. Were going to do our best to get this W." 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