When Rooney? The big question

It’s not as simple as that, of course. One expert treating Wazza’s foot has said he shouldn’t play, period. Another expert (not treating his foot) has said he shouldn’t play, not tomorrow, not in this tournament. Two more experts (treating foot) are due to arrive on Friday. The Man United fans chat group has revealed a rumour, quoting hospital sources, that the fracture hasn’t healed. And the FA has reportedly told Eriksson to think it through.

Rooney himself was like a caged panther at today’s practice, involved in everything with usual enthusiasm. Rooney went in crouching, focused, intense. Wearing a cutaway vest, he looked even more like a boxer that is his family’s trade. And as a reminder that the artist lurks somewhere near the surface, one shot lazily struck from the halfway line, almost as an afterthought, hit the bar.

He’s up for it mentally, but there are some things in football even Wazza can’t control. Away from Wayne’s world, England have a match on their hands. They must grapple with their own miserable form against Paraguay, Trinidad’s eagerness to do well (“the game of their lives”, said Eriksson) and the sapping heat.

Eriksson is aware of the importance of a good win tomorrow, if only to keep the press at bay and reduce the incredible pressure. He appeared positive, trotting out statistics — “official FIFA stats, not mine” — to show just how good England were on Saturday.

True, they had possession, and true they had shots on goal but they only scored via an own goal before losing their way in the second half. Another problem is the lack of creativity outside David Beckham’s right foot. Eriksson sought to play this down, saying that Gerrard, Lampard and Cole were goalscorers, as was Michael Owen.

Finally, there is the Trinidad team, for whom this is some sort of derby match. Most play, or have played, in the English leagues, and as their coach Leo Beenhakker said, they are really looking forward to impressing their fans back home — both homes. Did they shoot their bolt against Sweden and have nothing in reserve? The Dutch master tactician disagreed but to raise their game to that level two matches in a row would require extraordinary powers.

Then again, isn’t that why they are here in Germany?