THIS trip isn't exactly cheap - but it's just possible that it's the bargain of a lifetime!

How can you possibly put a price on witnessing the Wayne Rooney show when England cantered to victory over Switzerland?

Being here has been worth every single penny because the kid is turning into a pure phenomenon - absolutely awesome.

As a striker myself, I'd like to think I can appreciate the role he's playing. But it's easy to forget sometimes that we're talking about an 18-year-old boy.

And while Michael Owen strolls around like a little boy lost, Rooney - who was still only 12 when Owen scored THAT goal against Argentina - has just snatched the baton and is running with it.

The really impressive thing is that he is taking everything and everyone in his stride and it's no exaggeration to say that Rooneymania is now everywhere here in Portugal.

He is now the name on everyone's lips - not just the masses of England fans on the Algarve.

The name is plastered all over the merchandise outside the grounds, being sung in every bar and his family seem to be everywhere too!

I bumped into his younger brother outside the stadium on Thursday night. I've never met him before in my life, but the likeness was there for all to see as he walked past with around 30 of Wayne's family and friends all out here kicking every ball.

One thing is sure. Rooney won't be at Everton much longer if he keeps this profile up and right now I would be very surprised if he's still at Goodison Park five games into next season.

Thursday was definitely a long, but ultimately rewarding day. I opted to drive to and from Coimbra - largely because all my mates had enjoyed a few too many beers the night before!

But I felt I wanted to enjoy the whole occasion. The six-hour journey turned out to be terrific because so many fans were making the same road trip and creating a cracking atmosphere.

Once at the stadium itself, there was not one ounce of trouble and after the game, it was straight back in the car and back to Albufeira in a record four-and-a-half hours.

It must have been the adrenaline - and I was certainly glad I chose to keep a clear head when we arrived back on the outskirts of town, where the police had set up roadblocks to breathalyse everyone.

These Portuguese police can be so thoughtful!