Wayne Rooney didn't need any extra motivation heading into Euro 2004, but he sure got some.
Having emerged onto the scene with Everton over the previous two seasons, Rooney had taken his place in the England team and was a guaranteed starter going into his first major tournament in Portugal that summer. He knew it, the nation knew it, and everyone who had seen him had confidence in him.
In France they weren't so sure though.
Much of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 side were still intact for the French, and even though - or perhaps because - they had flopped at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002, there was a determination that this tournament would be a success for them.
England, and their talented teenage forward, were the first group opponents, and defender Lilian Thuram was confident.
"I doubt how much Rooney can give to the England team," Thuram said prior to the tournament starting.
"He is very young - too young for such a hard competition like this.
"He lacks international experience, so for England to depend on him to score their goals is dangerous.
"Rooney is not Michael Owen - he was a far better player on his debut for the English team.
"The Everton player is good, but he is no Pele."
Everton fans sang a song at the time which showed that they begged to differ, and the confidence in Rooney on Merseyside had grown onto a national scale thanks to a start which had included five goals in 13 international matches.
Another Merseysider, Steven Gerrard, was asked about the squad's belief in Rooney before the France clash, with Thuram's quotes put to him.
"I hope so," said Gerrard in a BBC interview when he was asked if the France defender was in for a shock, with the broadcast part of the new Amazon Prime documentary 'Rooney' released on February 11.
"Wayne's definitely ready for this tournament, he's looking forward to this tournament more than anyone and hopefully he'll prove Lilian Thuram wrong."
Rooney was primed for his first match on the international tournament stage then, with Thuram's words the backdrop.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's England were the underdogs - Thuram had also said the Three Lions would need 'six Thierry Henrys' to beat them - but Rooney was fired up.
Utilising his strong running and the physique which had by now marked him out as much more than a boy in a man's game, Rooney played in attack with Michael Owen and worried the French throughout the first half, with Frank Lampard heading England in front.
The forward then also won a penalty in the second period, only for David Beckham to see his effort saved by Fabien Barthez.
Rooney's England teammate Gary Neville couldn't believe what he was seeing in attack though, saying now that: "You don't do that against France. He was doing something that was, for an English player, really, really special. He was just breathtaking.
"This was a different level, this was something out of this world.
"The French were unbelievable. [Zinedine] Zidane and Henry were two of the best players in the world, Thuram was one of the best defenders in the world.
"And he was ripping them to shreds. They couldn't handle him and he was 18 years of age."
Thuram's presence had been noted by Rooney, and when a ball broke free during an attack in the second half he sensed his chance to make a mark.
As Rooney challenged Thuram he moved his arm upwards and seemed to catch the France defender in the chin, with the World Cup winner falling to the turf under the impact of the challenge from a player he had said was "too young for such a hard competition like this" just months earlier.
"I've just banged right into his jaw, and then I looked back at him as if to say 'now you know who I am!'" recalls Rooney now.
"Still to this day seeing his face, the fear of thinking 'what am I gonna do here?'"
While Rooney was dominating, France were made of stern stuff and they had a genius in their No.10 shirt.
Zidane levelled the scores with a stunning free-kick in the 91st minute, and then when a Gerrard backpass sent Henry through a minute later, he was brought down by David James giving Zidane the chance to win it from the penalty spot. He duly did.
Thuram would have the last laugh in terms of the scoreline then, but the bruise on his jaw was a reminder of his day, and of the immense promise Rooney had.
This was a player who was bursting onto the scene, and pretty soon it wasn't a question of whether he was ready for Euro 2004.
It was if Euro 2004 was ready for him.
