Michael’s torture at time on his Owen

MICHAEL OWEN admits life can be “torturous” killing the time between big games at World Cup tournaments.

Owen finds it hard to adjust to the quiet spells when his teammates are tucked away inside their hotel rooms.

Owen offered a revealing insight into his own character at a time when he finds himself at the centre of a debate about his form and fitness ahead of tonight’s clash with Sweden.

He says he is “shy” but not “whiter than white” and likes to let his hair down by getting drunk.

“You try to pass the time as best you can but we’re just preparing ourselves for each game. That preparation is always so important.

“It can be torturous, although it depends what kind of person you are. I have been brought up in a big family and I like having people around. If everyone is quietly passing the time in their rooms playing on their computer or reading, then I get really bored. But if everyone is in the games room playing cards or pool, or if everyone is in the same television room, watching the match, shouting and betting with each other, then I’m fine.”

Owen dislikes the attention he commands as a football star.

He said: “I’m all right when I am with they lads but I am quite shy. I can’t imagine anything worse than when I have retired still getting chased around.

“I can have a laugh with anyone in the dressing room, which is where I really let my hair down, or go out and get drunk like anyone else.

“I am not whiter than white. I’m not the perfect man.”

Owen highlights the 1998 World Cup as the moment when his life changed. “The 1998 World Cup changed my life forever and created a huge level of interest in me.”