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It seems that the England national team will have to do without Wayne Rooney in the upcoming World Cup. Although it was expected that the young forward would recover from a foot injury, on Wednesday the national team's strategist Sven Goran Eriksson stated that it would take a miracle for that to happen.
After thorough examinations, it was revealed that the twenty-year-old talent had not just one, as previously thought, broken bone in his foot. The treatment for such an injury may take longer than six weeks - which is exactly how long is left until the first match of the World Cup with Paraguay.
"Yesterday I knew that it was more than one bone that broke," S.G. Eriksson told journalists. "I don't know what it means, but I am not expecting the worst. That's just who I am. There are miracles in life, after all."
Despite this serious injury, the Swede plans to include the young forward in the national team squad which will go to Germany. This decision was also influenced by representatives of Manchester United, who assured that they believe in and will make every possible effort for W. Rooney to recover in time.
"His name will probably be on the list announced on Monday. There will be 26 or 27 players on it. I won't remove W. Rooney until the doctors say there is no hope left."
"I would be foolish to say that his absence is not important. It would be like Brazil losing Ronaldinho, or France losing Thierry Henry - W. Rooney is one of the absolute best."
"But, despite that, we have a very good team, a great squad, so I am confident that we will perform very successfully in the World Cup."
Far better news reached the coach from the team - the other main forward of the national team, Michael Owen, will definitely play in Germany. That is what the doctors affirm after examining his injured leg once again and not finding any damage.
"I am confident that he will be ready. We will give him enough time to regain the sportive form we want."
