HE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A FEUD between two of the sport’s most illustrious managers. His injury has filled more column inches than great affairs of state. His health has been checked and confirmed by leading medical authorities, his worth debated by insurers and financiers. After all the deliberations, the snag for the experts was that forces of nature do not respect paperwork.
Having hogged the attention of so many worthies, it would have been of limited surprise had Wayne Rooney listened to Sven-Göran Eriksson’s latest team talk and then run it by his lawyers, but England’s talisman is not the officious type. As his colleagues prepared for Thursday’s World Cup match, he juggled a ball in the changing-room, pleading to play.
Least concerned of all by the interminable debate about Rooney’s fitness between Eriksson and Sir Alex Ferguson — the Manchester United manager phoned the striker before the game to wish him luck — has been the player. As he stretched on the sidelines during the Paraguay fixture, never mind the 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, he repeatedly sought his head coach’s eyes, as if daring the Swede to ignore the carefully drafted statements and the advice of doctors.
Rooney’s substitute appearance was a release; for the nation, his team-mates and for the 20-year-old who, for all his capacity to earn millions, front advertising campaigns and influence children, remains a scally defined by his love for a kickabout. “He was desperate to get out there,” Steven Gerrard said. “Before the game he was kicking the ball around the dressing-room, just dying to get out there and play.”
Rooney’s introduction against Trinidad & Tobago transformed the disaffection of England supporters into raucousness and lifted the players who had been toiling. “I don’t think I have to speak about Wayne for everyone to know how important he is to this team or the country,” Gerrard, who planted a soppy kiss on his fellow Scouser when England’s late victory was secured, said. “You ‘ve heard the supporters and what they think about him, you have heard all the players go on record about how desperate we are to get him back.”
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While Rooney, who has been recuperating from a broken metatarsal, looked rusty, his presence was an inspiration. “I just love playing with him,” Gerrard said. “Everyone in the squad does and that’s not difficult to understand. He is our best player — not only that, he’s one of the best in the world — and we are a better team with him. His movement is great. As a midfield player, he is always in space, so it’s easier to pass to him. He sets an example to the rest of us. He works so hard. If, as well as being a top player, you can set the tone with effort and hard work, it makes you even better. Wayne does that.”
Rooney has not idled in his absence, but having sweated his way back into contention, understanding must follow. “He has been frustrated by the injury and ideally he wanted to start the World Cup and be 100 per cent,” Gerrard said. “But he has had to be patient and now we have to be the same with him.”
Each challenge brought trepidation, however. “A few hearts were in mouths when he went into tackles, but Wazza’s not the type of person to hold back and we have to trust in the medical staff that he wouldn’t be on the pitch if there was a possibility that he would be injured by one innocuous tackle,” Rio Ferdinand said. “He did all that was asked of him; the most important thing for him is fitness.”
While England have not yet excited or entertained, they have remained resolute. “A couple of years ago we would have been impatient, tried to go for it too quickly and paid the price,” John Terry said. “I know the fans were frustrated — we could hear them whistling and booing — and a couple of lads on the bench said that the pace was slow. But we kept possession and waited for the opportunities.
“It’s part of getting used to different games, experience that’s been driven home to us through the Champions League. We’ve got belief in each other; belief that one of us will step up to the plate when the situation demands it. That’s what it’s all about.”