WEDDING BELLS FOR WAYNE ROONEY?

They say marriages are made in heaven.England's loss is someone's gain.Wayne Rooney is to marry girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin next June, after his diary was left clear by England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, he said in comments published Tuesday.

"For a while we couldn't make any plans because I didn't know whether I would be playing in Euro 2008," the 22-year-old Manchester United striker told Hello! magazine.

"But when we failed to qualify, as devastating as that was, we were able to come up with some firm dates," he added.

Rooney and childhood sweetheart McLoughlin have been together for five years. The 21-year-old bride-to-be said she had visited potential venues for the wedding in France and Italy, and would also consider a ceremony in England.

The footballer said there was a silver lining to England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 after they were knocked out by Croatia last month.

"Had England got through to the tournament then we would have married later on in the summer but that meant we wouldn't have had a honeymoon. So I guess there is some upside to it!" he said.This is an momentous occasion in this young superstar's career and we wish him all the best.