Rooney: I have no ill feelings against Ronaldo
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England ace Wayne Rooney says he was stunned to be shown a red card on Saturday against Portugal.
And he insisted he was not angry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who appeared to encourage the referee to send him off.
"I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Carvalho," said Rooney.
The 20-year-old added: "I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed he chose to get involved."
Sven-Goran Eriksson's men played the final hour of the match with 10 men after Rooney's sending-off, but in a statement released on Monday, the striker said: "When the referee produced the red card I was amazed - gobsmacked."
He added: "Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed to have been sent off in a World Cup finals match for England.
"I remember the incident clearly and have seen it several times since on TV," Rooney said.
"I am of the same opinion now as I was at the time that what happened didn't warrant a red card. If anything, I feel we should have had a free-kick for the fouls committed on me during the same incident.
"If you ask any player - and indeed almost any fan - they will tell you that I am straight and honest in the way I play.
"From what I've seen in the World Cup, most players would have gone to ground at the slightest contact but my only thought then was to keep possession for England."
Rooney hailed his England team-mates, who fought valiantly to force extra-time and penalties despite being a man down.
"I thought the England lads were awesome after I went off and the effort they put in was amazing," he said.
"Truly if there was any justice England would now be preparing for a World Cup semi-final. Sadly, however, that is not to be in 2006."
And he insisted he was not angry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who appeared to encourage the referee to send him off.
"I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Carvalho," said Rooney.
The 20-year-old added: "I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed he chose to get involved."
Sven-Goran Eriksson's men played the final hour of the match with 10 men after Rooney's sending-off, but in a statement released on Monday, the striker said: "When the referee produced the red card I was amazed - gobsmacked."
He added: "Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed to have been sent off in a World Cup finals match for England.
"I remember the incident clearly and have seen it several times since on TV," Rooney said.
"I am of the same opinion now as I was at the time that what happened didn't warrant a red card. If anything, I feel we should have had a free-kick for the fouls committed on me during the same incident.
"If you ask any player - and indeed almost any fan - they will tell you that I am straight and honest in the way I play.
"From what I've seen in the World Cup, most players would have gone to ground at the slightest contact but my only thought then was to keep possession for England."
Rooney hailed his England team-mates, who fought valiantly to force extra-time and penalties despite being a man down.
"I thought the England lads were awesome after I went off and the effort they put in was amazing," he said.
"Truly if there was any justice England would now be preparing for a World Cup semi-final. Sadly, however, that is not to be in 2006."
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