WONDERBOY Wayne Rooney sent the nation ecstatic last night as his performance sent England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
Rooneymania swept the country as two sublime strikes from the 18-year-old helped England to a 4-2 victory against Croatia.
Millions of fans, crowded into pubs and bars or sitting in front of TV sets at home, watched as goals from Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard sealed the win.
But it was the teenage superstar, with a goal in each half, who stole the show.
About 40,000 supporters from the UK were watching the game at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon including Rooney's father, Wayne senior, 40, mother Jeanette, 36, and brothers, Graham, 15, and John, 12.
In Albufeira, on the Algarve, there was a party atmosphere on the now notorious Strip. The mood was in contrast to last week when there were violent clashes between soccer hooligans and Portuguese riot police. About 150 fans, many draped in flags, chanted in the street: "Walking in a Rooney wonderland".
Rooney, now the tournament's top scorer with four goals, said: "I just go out there and play my normal game. The team has done very well."
Bookmakers Ladbrokes have cut England's odds on winning Euro 2004 from 6-1 to 11-2.
