The one thing that all England football fans didn?t want to happen typically happened, as Wayne Rooney broke a bone in his foot and is now a major doubt for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
The fears were realised when it was revealed the dreaded metatarsal had struck again, but while he isn?t definitely out it has to be assumed that England will be without their best player. It would be a disaster for England if the lads had to go to the World Cup finals without Wayne.
England have many good players and some exceptional stars, but Rooney is something different. He has the qualities that only a handful of players in the world have and so he simply can?t be replaced, especially at international level.
While there was better news on Owen's injury today, the setback to Rooney sent England's odds of winning the four-yearly tournament drifting to almost 6/1 from 5/1 on Bodog Sportsbook.The only other player whose absence could affect his team's price so much is probably Brazil's Ronaldinho.
Rooney was England's top scorer at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, his first major tournament, scoring four goals before breaking a bone in his foot in a quarterfinal loss to the host. Rooney has no hope of playing in group games against Paraguay, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago starting June 10, though he could figure in the round of 16, said sports-injury expert Roger Robertson. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson must name his 23-man roster by May 15.
On June 9th at the FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich, the 2006 WC will kick off as the host Germans take on Central American minnows Costa Rica in opening round action.
Can Germany make a repeat appearance in the World Cup Final? Will England capture their first title in 40 years?
BET on Who Will Be The Top Goal Scorer of The World Cup Germany 2006
Ronaldo Nazario (BRA) 8/1
Adriano (BRA) 9/1
Thierry Henry (FRA) 13/1
Ronaldinho Gaucho (BRA) 9/1
Hernan Crespo (ARG) 15/1
Michael Owen (ENG) 14/1
Ruud Van Nistelrooy (NED) 15/1
The fears were realised when it was revealed the dreaded metatarsal had struck again, but while he isn?t definitely out it has to be assumed that England will be without their best player. It would be a disaster for England if the lads had to go to the World Cup finals without Wayne.
England have many good players and some exceptional stars, but Rooney is something different. He has the qualities that only a handful of players in the world have and so he simply can?t be replaced, especially at international level.
While there was better news on Owen's injury today, the setback to Rooney sent England's odds of winning the four-yearly tournament drifting to almost 6/1 from 5/1 on Bodog Sportsbook.The only other player whose absence could affect his team's price so much is probably Brazil's Ronaldinho.
Rooney was England's top scorer at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, his first major tournament, scoring four goals before breaking a bone in his foot in a quarterfinal loss to the host. Rooney has no hope of playing in group games against Paraguay, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago starting June 10, though he could figure in the round of 16, said sports-injury expert Roger Robertson. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson must name his 23-man roster by May 15.
On June 9th at the FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich, the 2006 WC will kick off as the host Germans take on Central American minnows Costa Rica in opening round action.
Can Germany make a repeat appearance in the World Cup Final? Will England capture their first title in 40 years?
BET on Who Will Be The Top Goal Scorer of The World Cup Germany 2006
Ronaldo Nazario (BRA) 8/1
Adriano (BRA) 9/1
Thierry Henry (FRA) 13/1
Ronaldinho Gaucho (BRA) 9/1
Hernan Crespo (ARG) 15/1
Michael Owen (ENG) 14/1
Ruud Van Nistelrooy (NED) 15/1
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