BADEN BADEN, Germany, June 18 -- Wayne Rooney will start England's final
World Cup Group B game against Sweden on Tuesday, said coach Sven-Goran
Eriksson.
The 20-year-old striker, sidelined for nearly seven weeks after breaking his
foot, played the last half-hour of Thursday's 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago
and has looked sharp in training.
"The medical people say he can play more than 45 minutes so if that is the
case then it is better he starts than he comes on," Eriksson told ITV Sport on
Sunday.
"I'm very happy and he's very happy, and it's very good for England."
Eriksson was pleased with Rooney's display against the Soca Warriors in
Nuremberg, the youngster delivering several probing passes and clearly hungry to
make an impact.
"We saw when he came on that maybe he's not 100 percent but he kept the ball
up there and did some clever movements and passes," said the Swede.
England have badly missed Rooney's ability to pick up the ball in the final
third of the pitch and use his passing or trademark surging runs to get forward
and launch attacks.
TOWERING STRIKER
Against Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, England frequently resorted to
long balls for towering striker Peter Crouch to knock down or for Michael Owen
to chase.
"He (Rooney) is very important of course," Eriksson said. "He is a fantastic
player, he is that type of link player between strikers and midfield which we
really need."
Rooney's return means Crouch will almost certainly be on the bench, his usual
role for England when the Manchester United forward is fit.
Owen, who has struggled in the absence of Rooney's playmaking support, should
partner him up front.
The 26-year-old Owen has yet to play an hour in either group win while Rooney
is not expected to last a full 90 minutes in only his second game since breaking
a metatarsal on April 29.
