How will England perform in the World Cup without Wayne Rooney??
597973
England will win their group most certainly.  I think whoever steps in for Rooney (i.e. Darren Bent, Crouch, Defoe, or even Joe Cole) could step in for him admirably.  He is a great player, but his absence should make the players still around play that much harder!  Keep in mind they have Owen, Gerrard, Lampard, and Joe Cole, guys who never seem to have a hard time finding the net when it is necessary!  I think they will get to at least the quarterfinals, but I am pulling for them to go all the way.
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.
1005681
The truth is no we dont .....on his day this boy can be magic but hes never been as he was in France 98...if he hits form he can score against anyone but the fact was before he did in his knee he wasnt fit and wasnt on form england could have played without him then and will be fine without him now...the trouble is who replaces him...thats where defoe sould have fitted in..svens big mistake...England will miss him if he was due to hit some form but we have a good enough squad to make up for him!
483471
By alll his preformances, Wayne Rooney deserves to be put into the starting line-up of the English team as soon as he is well enough. That is one world class player!
1153858
'Blessed'. Hmm, there's a word.\nNo, let's face it, he isn't really fit, even though he has been given the all clear. I'm glad he can play though, as Rooney not being there can't be used as an excuse when they go out in the group stages..........England won't win the World Cup - ok?
1155853
Rooney '300% sure' ahead of scan  \n \nRooney has stepped up his fitness regime in the last few days \nEngland striker Wayne Rooney has told coach Sven-Goran Eriksson he is 300% certain he will be fit for the World Cup finals in Germany. \nThe 20-year-old will leave England's base near Baden-Baden and return to Manchester for the crucial scan on his fractured metatarsal. \n\nEriksson said: "I'm confident he will take part in the World Cup and he is 300% confident he will play.
565093
Wow, when I first read your question I thought you were off your rocker.  Rooney is hurt bad.  But you know what...I started thinking and started believing you.  I hope your theory is correct and he'll be ready.  But seriously....if he broke it in numerous spots (which might be the conspiracy) it will be difficult to be fit for the end of the WC.
174836
if everyone else in the team is as committed as WAYNE ROONEY is for every game... then england can be world champions again (provided soon-go eriksson doesn't say stupid things to/about the players - best english team so far!).\nit's about time... few youngsters remember alf ramsey's 1966 world cup team which trashed germany 4-2 in the final. i predict a brazil - england final - england 3 brazil 2
658587
Sven Has really done it wrong you are right \nnow englandis suffering with no forwards,bent who played well has been overlooked and even defoe is out,walcott how did he come in he did not en=ven play a match,beckham may get to hold the cup if crouch and other england players manage to hold  on till owen and rooney makes a comeback\nthen england may go to win the world cup,even if they dont have rooney and owen for a while they do have lampard an agressive midfielder,joe cole another good midfielder,gerrard good schemer,beckham to supply crouch and walcott with good passes and crosses.\nengland have it all i think they can win the world cup man cheer up.\njoin my yahoo soccer group -  soccer_24x7 for more cool info
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.
1161825
maybe england , if rooney shows some of his magic!!!!
643139
England has a good bowling line up, but they don't have a good batting line up. If they can find the balance then they will be unbeatable at the World Cup
1033720
Oh I think Portugal will definately struggle to win against England. Because they have great players! Yeah Rooney. I rate that guy highly because Im a United fan but that match against Ecuador where he pushed against to players in the box claiming that they held him back but it was he who actually tried to push past them! Did any of you English see that? Probably not I'd say!! \nLet's face it people. Whenever Portugal and England meet the english feel intimidated and make them out as the cheats and divers that they are not. \nO inglês são demais teimoso ver que eles não são os melhores lados. Temem o português. LONGO VIVE PORTUGAL!!
1008925
yes...definitely...they havent been playin their best and i know that they can do a way better job then this...im not surprised that they made it this far...Wayne Rooney is in shape and ready to take on anythin and David Beckham is to his regular self and Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole has been playin tremdously good. so i hope/think they will beat Portugal.
563157
Looks pretty strong around. especially in defense, midfield, and wings. only problem i feel is that there in no defensive midfielder in the team. they tried Ledley king in the friendly against Argentina and it worked, but unfortunately he is in injured. beckam was tried with disastrous results against northern Ireland and Denmark both games they lost.\n    i don't like the sound of peter crouch upfront,i somehow dint like him.they should have given chance to Defoe or bent in his place. hope fully Owen will be fit to start and Rooney by 2nd round or quarters. i hope they go all the way, they are in easier group, and you cannot say what will happen in the knock out phase.
1173371
If they are going to perform like they did today, then no. Although the heat was pretty intense and they were missing Rooney (who I don't think will actually contribute that much, despite all that talk). I think we're just going to have to wait and see how they perform in the next match. Hopefully, they'll give the world something worth watching.
363630
I think Rooney has something to prove.....he will be highly motivated to score.  Ronaldhino has a lot of other scorers on his own team to compete with.  Rooney is by far the best scorer for england.