Published: Today at 00:23
WAYNE Rooney has told of his pride at becoming England’s Gazza-style chief cheerleader at Euro 2012.
The superstar striker is suspended from the Three Lions’ first two games and revealed coach Roy Hodgson offered him an extra week off before the team flew to their Poland base.
But Roo, dubbed Wazza, chose to spend extra time with the squad — and has boosted morale by helping Our Boys chill out between games.
He was pictured playing snooker with pal Ashley Cole and has larked with the squad’s new recruits as they wind down on “recovery days”.
His efforts echo those of fun-loving Paul Gascoigne, whose “daft-as-a- brush” antics raised English spirits at tournaments including Italia 90.
Roo, 26 — joined yesterday by wife Coleen and two-year-old son Kai — said: “I need to be more of a person around the dressing room and hotel, helping to get people relaxed more.
“I’ve a job to do there as well as on the pitch when I come back playing.
“We’ve got a big squad and a good squad. I just have to make sure I’m in there, getting in among the lads and getting in the spirit with them.”
Roo, available again for England’s third group game against Ukraine, was at the South Africa World Cup two years ago when England flopped after being bored stiff at their isolated Rustenburg training camp.
So he is delighted the FA based this squad at central Krakow’s Stary Hotel — complete with its own recreation centre, swimming pool and spa.
He said: “It’s important for all the players. It’s not nice sitting in a hotel for hours on end. Different activities help us chill out and relax more and that benefits the players.
“To be honest all my tournaments — apart from Euro 2004 maybe — have ended in disappointment for England, and me personally as well. So it’s something I want to put right.”
Coleen, 26, arrived in Poland after a £14,000 flight aboard a private jet. With her were brother Anthony McLoughlin and little Kai, wearing a replica England Number 10 shirt with the word Daddy on the back.
Coleen last night enjoyed a belated fourth wedding anniversary dinner with her hubby near the hotel. Roo later tweeted: “Had a great time with Coleen, Anthony and Kai. Lunch and toy shop for Kai. Kai was riding round hotel on his new bike haha.”
Meanwhile, the Man United ace seemed to have taken another leaf out of Gazza’s book with a new partially- shaven hairdo which sparked memories of the Geordie joker’s 1990 look.
Team-mates Jermain Defoe, Joleon Lescott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also sported new styles after celeb crimper Daniel Johnson was flown in. His clients also include Ashley Cole.
Minister’s thugs rap
POLAND’S sports minister was blamed yesterday for vicious fighting between rival soccer thugs.
Joanna Mucha allowed 6,000 Russian fans to hold a National Day march through Warsaw just hours before their team played Poland on Tuesday.
But 24 people were injured and 180 arrested when they were ambushed by Polish hooligans.
- PUB landlord Jeff Roll, 35, faces a council probe because the 20ft x 9ft England flag outside his bar in Eastbourne, East Sussex, is “too noisy”.
- A VIDEO has emerged of Sweden’s reserve keeper Johan Wiland having balls blasted at his bare bottom by team-mates as a training ground forfeit.
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