WAYNE ROONEY leads England into Euro 2016 insisting he is a better player than ever after rounding on a Russian journalist who suggested he was no longer the player he was.

At the press conference to preview England's opening game against Russia in Marseille tonight, Rooney was stunned when it was put to him so openly that the opposition camp felt he was past his peak.

"Everyone who watches football is entitled to his opinion," he replied. "But I know the qualities I have and I don't have to sit here and defend myself.

"I've played this game for a lot of years and I'm aware that my game has changed slightly over the years. In my opinion, it's changed for the better. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but the opinions that matter to me are those of my coaches and team-mates."

Roy Hodgson, sat beside Rooney, nodded his approval at his captain's response and is expected to play him in a deeper role in the centre of midfield, with Harry Kane spearheading a three-man attack.

The Manchester United player refused to confirm Hodgson's plan when faced with a follow-up question, but did accept his future may lie in midfield.

"Firstly I never said I've changed my position," he said. "I've changed my game slightly. I've seen players and played with players who have changed what they did and become better players. That's natural.

"I've played in midfield for the last few months at United, and it's a natural way of football. It happens. I feel with my football intelligence, I can play there and further my career there as well. My favourite position is being on the pitch, to be honest.

"And my ambition, our ambition for this tournament? That is to do as well as we can and try to win it.

"You need a bit of luck in tournament football, but we believe we have the quality to do really well in this tournament. We're excited it's beginning. We want to get going now."