Good news for England but will Rooney make a difference?

So its good news for England, Wayne Rooney has joined English squad in Germany though there are concerns and questions hanging on when he will be match fit to eventually play in tourney. It is certain that he will not be able to play in any group matches unless in last game against Sweden (June 20th ) England require a must win result to qualify so may be then Sven Goran Eriksson might call him as late substitute. Otherwise United have laid down strict fitness conditions on his playing in tourney. It all seems like a battle between English team management and United management. Sven Goran Eriksson definitely needs Rooney in team one to keep his team’s moral high and secondly to probably use him late in games. Because coming back from such an injury there is a huge risk playing him even one full half especially when opposition’s defense would be targeting his leg. United on the other hand cannot afford him getting injured again because that will put him off for months and seriously jeopardize United’s campaign next season.

Rooney’s injury reminds me of the injury suffered by Waqar Younis just before the 92 Cricket World Cup in Australia. Waqar was at his peak at that time and losing him was a huge blow to the squad but full praise to Imran Khan who marshaled his troops and likes of Wasim Akram, Aaqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed who stepped up their games and rest we know is history :). Rest of the English players will have to do that too.

There are bad news for other teams though most importantly for France who lost Djibril Cisse yesterday(Lyon striker Sidney Govou will replace him now), when he suffered a leg fracture while playing in a friendly against China. Friendly or warm up games are important for teams trying to find out right combinations and test strategies but it can all seriously go wrong if any of the main players get injured and are ruled out as France coach Raymond Domenech found it yesterday plus it is such a heart break for a player going out of tourney a day before. In this case Brazil looks such a settled side they don’t have any injury scares and they hardly played any friendlies which goes to show how much settled everything is with them and that just makes them such a big favorites to win this time again.

There is a slight setback for hosts too, they will be without their charismatic captain Michael Ballack in their opening game against Costa Rica. It is also a sad news for me too because he is in my fantasy team which I am playing on official World Cup site and now there isn’t anyone from my team playing on the opening day :( sad.

For Italy it seems there is no end to their ever growing injury list, Totti isn’t completely match fit( which just emphasizes the fact that how much time it takes to recover and then get match fit) and after Gianluca Zambrotta and Alessandro Nesta it was time for Gennaro Gattuso to pick up an injury and he is probably out for first two matches.

Also Mexico’s first choice goal keeper Oswaldo Sanchez has returned home following death of his father, a statement is expected later this evening about his status.

And it all begins tomorrow :).