what chance do England have now that Wayne Rooney is out. have they enough fire power without him?
386902
They still have a chance because the rest of the team is good, but with Rooney out, Owen hurting, England doesn't have too many scoring options left, which means players like Lampard, Gerrard, and Joe Cole are going to have to step up and provide that scoring touch they exhibited during the season at their respective clubs. This might mean that they will play alot of low scoring games.
497771
Without Rooney is like cutting of a leg.  Who will score the goals then?  I don't believe Owen will do the job, because he isn't up to par.
538064
dont panic, england supporters..we will survive.we might not have so called "star" striker..whatever.. but we have a great team.. and if rooney recovers by the time for WC that will be a bonus for the team..if not, we still have as much chance as any other country..
459608
He's so important to England the F.A. will do a Beckham on him. They'll take him and hope he recovers in time to play after the group stage. Does the injury harm Englands chances?. You bet it does.
513813
I think if luck goes our way for once, and our best players remain fit then we have a cracking chance of winning the World Cup. Wayne Rooney is a-list, as we all know.  However, England have other superb players, who can shine on the World Stage. Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Cole, the list goes on. So may of our best players have had really good seasons, and won trophies. I think that Owen will be a massive hero this summer. Come on!
443756
i full agree with the first post. it seems like the likely team. until we go a goal down and sven substitutes joe cole for hargreaves and rooney for crouch, just to make sure we have absolutely no chance of winning.
569111
Well rooney is a strong lad....its sad he's down wuth the injury at this point of time...but as a fan i wish him well and i am certain..he will be in the england squad....and will be the talisman of england to win the world cup...
1159861
Not at the moment, the big teams have a fluidity and confidence about them that england do not have. They must build the team around rooney and gerard, give them space to create and england will reap the rewards.
1171164
England:- if they win this game they qualify the group stages, but after a poor performance against paraguy they need to up there game. It is looking like Wayne Rooney Englands best striker will play some of the match but not all 90 minutes. Failing that Theo Wallcot is likely to come on.\n\nT&T:- Managed asuprise draw against sweden and have it all to play for especially when second place is deffinetely up for grabs
1176500
we've lost owen, but rooney seems to be back (and could well be fully match fit after an outing against ecuador).\n\ni doubt if any world-cup squad can lose one of its best players and still be a favourite for the tournament - but teams have been lucky in the past (uruguay in particular).\n\nif england can get through to the semis anything might happen.
679687
I think it is highly doubtful. He is still in the squad and going into oxygen chambers. However, Sir Alex Ferguson said on the weekend that it was a "forlorn hope" that he will play. However, Sven-Goran Erikkson has still got him in the squad until Rooney says he can't make it. However, Uri Geller is praying for him which shows how desperate it is.
720231
No chance this time...Rooney injured...crap manager...Owen doubtful ( even if he goes, he'll hamstring as usual)...Defence shaky at times...all down to sven gormless erika jonston..sorry to say he is the worst manager England ever had...The world cup will prove it.
1002931
good chance he might come on as a sub,england short of strikers and rooney isn't fully fit
622578
Brazil have a bad record playing in Europe....\n\nEngland have a great chance, With or without Rooney.
624960
i've been an England fan all of my life but you have to be realistic folks.  Yes i would love nothing better than England to win the World Cup but it will not happen in 2006.  We do have a good team, but i just don't believe we have a world class english goalkeeper.  And i'm not sure what Sven is doing picking only 5 strikers with 2 of them injured right now and 1 of them has never played a premiership game - shouldn't Theo have been called up in a friendly seeing as that's what they are for - EXPERIMENTATION!!!!\nGranted we have quite a few strikers in the premiership who could be backup to Rooney and Owen but they weren't chosen because of their poor form - but forgive me if i'm wrong, no matter how good a striker's form, they always find it tough adapting to playing for the national side.  A lot of good strikers have failed to score at international level even at the top of their form at club level.\nI believe England will reach the Quarter finals and get knocked out by the winners of the World Cup.\nThere's my prediction.  i'm begging you Sven please prove me wrong, but then again what do you care, you're leaving anyway.
1114648
Rooney will play in the playoffs, will rest until then. Unless it looks really horrible for England, in which case they will field him sooner.\n\nMonica\n\nChek out http://www.worldcupmaniac.com
650242
Dude its always correct to think England should mature up as a team. But you cant win a match without a striker can you, as Michael Owen is injured too and Rooney who is considered as having the caliber of Pele too hits the ground. Moreover there is no better replacement for Rooney in the whole country. Try thinking that way.