FA 1 United 0

[Scott]

From The Times:

Matt Dickinson Q&A
by frank praverman

Wayne Rooney will fly to Germany with the England squad, but is unable to take part in the group stages of the World Cup. Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent, says today's statement is a political victory for the Football Association over Manchester United


What does this mean to England?
It's good news in the sense of he's on the plane to Germany. There's a good vibe in the England camp this morning, but his participation in the tournament is still up in the air. The England camp are not celebrating but will be feeling optimistic.


Is it bad news or is this what was expected?
It's what we expected. The best case scenario all along was that he might make the very end of the group stages. The more realistic view was that he'll make the knockouts. As things stand he is progressing well. If anything, this is a victory for the FA as Rooney will be linking up with them earlier. They've scored a political victory over Manchester United - public statements have suggested England and United have been working in harmony but there have been underlying tensions.


When can we realistically look forward to seeing him play?
Why not be optimistic at the moment? If you're a betting man you'd say the first knockout stage is as good as we can hope for. Given that the quarter-finals will be against a strong nation if England get there, we will need Rooney fully fit. However, we have no idea what type of Wayne Rooney will come back, he is only mortal and will need time to regain full fitness. Against a strong nation with fully fit players, even Rooney will struggle if he is not quite right.


Alex Ferguson says he needs another two weeks after his next scan to regain full fitness, but how does he get match fit without playing matches?
There will be 50 different interprations of today's message and there's plenty more speculation to come. Players will tell you that you can feel fine one day and think it's all healed and then the next morning you wake up sore. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Red Yank]

Rushing Rooney to play if he isn't fit isn't going to benefit anyone, let's hope this doesn't become a tug of war that may put too much pressure on him to play if he doesn't feel fit.

[Scott]

I was thinking about this Rooney business tonight. I'd had a few pints, and was reflecting on his last big injury, during Euro 04. Hadnt played for a few months, and he comes to United. His first game is in the CL, the biggest stage he's ever played on. It's his debut. And he scores a hatrick.

Maybe he'll play amazingly well. I hope he does. Just so any joy England get we can use against Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal etc. fans. But now, I'd just rather he didnt go.

[Red Yank]

well the truth is we won't know till he gets on the pitch, my concern is that he does it because he feels he can physically do it and not because everyone wants him to. I hope if he competes he does well and shows the rest of the world that the best player in England plays for United!

#devilfinger#

[Chris]

Well as long as the scan on the 14th shows it's healed then he should be fine, like most bones his foot should actually be stronger as long as it's fully recovered. I think United have more than likely given Sven and the FA a more in depth report on his foot and must be confident it's going to be healed b ythe 14th otherwise I couldn't see anyone risking it. I think the media are only being given only part of the story not to build up optimism in case anything goes wrong or anything. Could just be me though

People in the media seem to forget his fitness levels have always been really high and he has been keeping his fitness up wit hthe oxygen tent and doing swimming, light jogging and cycling. Plus he has had a pretty long season, this is probably all a conspiracy to give him a rest :

I think he is going to make an appearance in the 2nd round (if we make it) then put in a good hour in the quarters and so on until we get knocked out or win (I wish ;D)

[mek]

I reckon he'll have the last 30 in the 2nd phase and play from the start in the quarters...

He played the whole of that fenerbahce match and was fucked for the last 15 mins... but that is how u get match fitness...

In the end if it's healed it's healed.

[Red Yank]

I hope he's well soon because it'll be great to see him in the WC

#thumb#

[Busby Boy]

Following the date being pushed forward 7 days, it looks as if it's 1-0 Fergie!

[punkfootball]

what do you expect southern based fa