England coach Gary Neville has backed Wayne Rooney to cope with the "drama" surrounding his role at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Rooney's position in Roy Hodgson's team has been the subject of intense debate, which heightened after Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Spain.
"This time it is Wayne Rooney but that comes with the territory of being an important player in a giant nation."
Neville told the BBC: "Our country love it, making a drama around player.
Rooney, 28, was played in a wide left role by Hodgson in the Group D match with Spain.
While they set up Daniel Sturridge's equaliser, they attracted some criticism for his performance and was largely a peripheral figure.
Various the players involved against Spain completed two-day post-match recovery work but Rooney did a session with the remainder of the squad.
The Footy Association have confirmed that Rooney had additional training on Monday at his own request.
BBC expert and former England captain Alan Shearer and former England manager Graham Taylor have both called for Rooney to be played in his preferred central position
Former Manchester United defender Neville has been to seven major tournaments with England as a player or coach and said the scrutiny Rooney was facing was not new, comparing it to that received by Paul Gasoigne and David Beckham.
"I've never known there not be an obsession around player," Neville told BBC Radio five live.
"It was Gascoigne from 1996 to 1998, Beckham from 2000 to 2006. From 2006, it was Rooney and Beckham. Now it is Rooney to 2014.
Neville described his former team-mate, who has scored 39 goals in 92 games for England, as a "street footballer".
"Unfortunately - or fortunately, because they is a giant player - this time it is Wayne Rooney."
"He has an enthusiasm for footy that is fabulous and he is been like that since the moment I played against him when they was a young Everton kid."
Neville added: "You cannot get him to do a light day's training. That is his character. They wishes to play every second of every day.
Defeat in their opening match increases the pressure on England ahead of Thursday's clash with Uruguay.
Rooney's position in Roy Hodgson's team has been the subject of intense debate, which heightened after Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Spain.
"This time it is Wayne Rooney but that comes with the territory of being an important player in a giant nation."
Neville told the BBC: "Our country love it, making a drama around player.
Rooney, 28, was played in a wide left role by Hodgson in the Group D match with Spain.
While they set up Daniel Sturridge's equaliser, they attracted some criticism for his performance and was largely a peripheral figure.
Various the players involved against Spain completed two-day post-match recovery work but Rooney did a session with the remainder of the squad.
The Footy Association have confirmed that Rooney had additional training on Monday at his own request.
BBC expert and former England captain Alan Shearer and former England manager Graham Taylor have both called for Rooney to be played in his preferred central position
Former Manchester United defender Neville has been to seven major tournaments with England as a player or coach and said the scrutiny Rooney was facing was not new, comparing it to that received by Paul Gasoigne and David Beckham.
"I've never known there not be an obsession around player," Neville told BBC Radio five live.
"It was Gascoigne from 1996 to 1998, Beckham from 2000 to 2006. From 2006, it was Rooney and Beckham. Now it is Rooney to 2014.
Neville described his former team-mate, who has scored 39 goals in 92 games for England, as a "street footballer".
"Unfortunately - or fortunately, because they is a giant player - this time it is Wayne Rooney."
"He has an enthusiasm for footy that is fabulous and he is been like that since the moment I played against him when they was a young Everton kid."
Neville added: "You cannot get him to do a light day's training. That is his character. They wishes to play every second of every day.
Defeat in their opening match increases the pressure on England ahead of Thursday's clash with Uruguay.
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