World Cup Injury Bug Spreads: Rooney Dinged, Vieri Out

April 29th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

Wayne Rooney was carried off on a stretcher today after suffering a foot injury in Manchester United’s match against Chelsea. “I was scared,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told reporters. “England need the boy, the World Cup needs the boy. I thought it was a bad injury but I was talking to one of their staff and they said it’s no problem for the World Cup.” While the whole of England holds its breath, there is definitive news that Christian Vieri will not be fit enough to play for Italy at the World Cup. Filippo Inzaghi is expected to take his place, a move I would have made with or without Vieri’s injury.

Meanwhile, Issac Boakye is in a race against time to recover from a knee injury he suffered during Ghana’s friendly against Stuttgart on Wednesday. The striker will undergo surgery and he will miss Arminia Bielefeld’s final three Bundesliga matches.

Finally, Australia’s Tim Cahill is going to be a close call for the World Cup. It appears for now that he will be named to the Socceroos’ 23-man roster, although how much he will be able to contribute remains to be seen.

And for those keeping track at home, the splinter I picked up in my index finger last week continues to be a bit of a problem. I am likely a game time decision on June 9.

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http://incadenza.typepad.com/soccer_thoughts/ Evan

Considering how awful he was for Italy at Euro 2004–awfulawfulawful, real “couldn’t get wet if he fell out of a boat” territory–I can’t believe that Vieri was even in contention for Italy. Gilardino, Toni, Cassano…er…Montella? Whatever, just not Vieri.

Rooney, on the other hand–I don’t want England to win, but you want to see the best players there, and it will be a real disappointment if Rooney can’t play.
http://ecuador.worldcupblog.org/ Trent

Now I’m hearing that Rooney’s foot is actually broken. If true, a massive blow for England. Any other news?
soze

Broken metatarsal. out for at least six weeks. I’m with Evan, don’t want England to win but it would be a shame not to see Rooney play.
http://ecuador.worldcupblog.org/ Trent

Ugh. Yeah, I’m not English either, but I want as many stars playing as possible this summer.
Dido

England, with Rooney have a GREAT chance to win the WC. Without Rooney, they still have a chance. Now, without Rooney and Owen, I dont know what they have.
http://www.worldcupblog.com Bob

Truly a shame. I want all the teams to be at their best this summer.
http://trinidadtobago.worldcupblog.org/1/wounded-warriors.html Wounded Warriors – FIFA World Cup 2006 – Trinidad and Tobago World Cup Team Blog

[...] The World Cup injury bug is spreading fast. Australia and England have both been seriously afflicted – although you could argue that the loss of Rooney is a blow to the whole Cup. What will England do without Rooney? Indeed, what would the Warriors do without Yorke? [...]
Futahaguro

What is with all of these metatarsal breaks as of late? Maybe someone needs to develo a better shoe or a toe brace or something. Not that I would want to play with anything on my feet, but sheesh.