WORLD CUP 2010 ENGLAND:JOHN TERRY believes England should treat Wayne Rooney's short temper as one of the team's principal assets rather than as a liability at the World Cup, and has rejected fears the Manchester United striker will have disciplinary problems in the tournament.
There have already been suggestions from England’s Group C opponents that they will target the forward’s suspect temperament, with Rooney doing little to discourage them by reacting furiously within minutes of being introduced into his side’s last warm-up game against Platinum Stars on Monday. The 24-year-old swore at the local referee, Jeff Selogilwe, with the official warning that similar language would see him dismissed in the finals.
Rooney’s reputation precedes him, with the forward having been sent off in his last appearance at the World Cup, against Portugal in the quarter-final four years ago.
“But we have seen in the last two or three years, and I honestly feel this, that Wayne has grown up a lot,” Terry said. “It won’t be a problem. In fact I think that, at times like [the first half on Monday], we could have done with a bit more of that aggression.
“I understand what people are saying, but he gave everyone a lift and we could have done with Wayne on the pitch in the first half to have given everyone a kick up the backside. I was a little bit nervous when he gave the ball away and immediately went into the tackle, but I think it would have pleased the manager.”
That assessment was backed up by Rio Ferdinand, who pointed to Rooney’s hugely improved disciplinary record in recent seasons. “It has been magnificent over the last couple of years, and he’s experienced now,” the injured centre-half said.
“Since the incident in Germany [with Ricardo Carvalho] he has done so well to get to where he is now. This was a practice match, it wasn’t an official match. I really don’t see Wazza having a disciplinary problem at all at the World Cup.”
Rooney, sporting a hefty cross round his neck, launched himself unperturbed into training again yesterday while Capello spent time with his three goalkeepers as he determines who will start the opening fixture.
David James has the support of many senior players, who have found reassurance in the veteran’s more vocal approach and wealth of experience, yet it appears increasingly likely that Rob Green will play against the USA.
The England coaching staff remain concerned about James’s fitness – the goalkeeper had been slightly restricted in training by a minor knee injury, though he feels confident enough to play – and he continues to be monitored closely by Capello and the goalkeeping coach, Franco Tancredi.
Joe Hart, a relative rookie with three caps to his name to date, has excelled in training and is in contention.
Yet Capello was unimpressed with the youngster’s distribution at times during the 3-0 warm-up win over Platinum Stars on Monday.
Capello is expected to opt for Green, who has been a regular starter for his country over the course of the last season.
Gareth Barry, previously restricted merely to participation in the warm-ups, joined in fully with the team’s ball work yesterday as he steps up his own recovery from ankle ligament damage, though the Manchester City midfielder will not be involved in competitive action until the second group game, against Algeria in Cape Town on June 18th, at the earliest.
James Milner was absent with a slight temperature, while Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips – the latter having suffered a slight kick against the Stars – joined Ledley King in the gym and swimming pool. The Spurs defender is expected to partner Terry at the heart of defence against the USA, with the Chelsea centre-half insistent that he has put his own disappointment at losing the England captaincy to Ferdinand behind him.
“When I met the manager [in February] I stressed to him that I accepted his decision,” Terry said.
Guardian Service
