2010 World Cup: Rooney shouts "f**k you"
Wayne Rooney was not very friendly in England’s final friendly match and is under inspection again. This time it's for one of his notorious traits of using foul language during a game. He has been given a stern warning that he will not be participating in the FIFA World Cup this summer if an event similar to the one against Platinum Stars happens to transpire again.
After ‘The Three Lions’ final friendly, the English striker admitted that he was ashamed of his actions against the referee. He offered his no.10 shirt after the match concluded to the local referee Jeff Selogilwe as compensation for shouting ‘f**k you’ at him. There were such incidents throughout the period he stayed on-field intensifying at the start of the second half. Rooney was outraged when a couple of fouls committed by Kagiso Senamela, and the former Tottenham Hotspur defender, Mbulelo Mabizela went unseen by the official.
The English have their first match against USA and they have already planned to take advantage of Rooney’s hot-headedness. In a post match statement Selogilwe stated, “Rooney insulted me. He said: ‘f**k you.’ He is a good player when you see him on the television, but when you see him on the pitch he just keeps on insulting the referee.”
Adding to the threatening notions against the star striker he said, “To me, it looks like Rooney insults people and fouls other players. If he insults a referee like me, then he will use that vulgar language to other referees as well. He must learn to control his temper. He could get sent off in the World Cup, especially if he uses this kind of language.”
Rooney does have an issue with his ‘game-talk’ and temperament. In the last World Cup of 2006 in Germany, the ace was sent off from the quarter final encounter with Portugal for kicking Ricardo Carvalho. Still there has been a dramatic improvement since then; having been booked just eight times last season, he hasn’t been shown a red card since Manchester United faced Fulham in March 2009. He went through England’s qualification unnoticed.
Rooney has been under major frustration since missing the last part of the season suffering an ankle injury in the English Premier League and the Champions League. The referee seemed to have accepted Rooney’s apology when he said, “I was very disappointed in Rooney because he is my favourite player, but he will still be my favourite player. He apologised to me and gave me the shirt he was wearing at the end.”
Selogilwe himself had an inconsistent performance. While missing fouls in the match he jotted Jamie Carragher’s name for kicking the ball away and caught Emile Heskey for nothing.
The 7,000 attendance for the match however enjoyed it as Joe Cole’s goal earlier was met by Defoe’s moments after he arrived and later on the classic by Rooney himself.
After the match Rooney said that he would have wanted to play more but this performance was enough to prove that he and his team were ready. He also said that the team was ready for USA along with Japan and next opponents Mexico.
English coach Fabio Capello however was blasé by the initial performance. The Italian made 10 half-time substitutions allowing just Joe Cole the privilege of 90 minutes. As Rio Ferdinand watched from the sideline, Capello must be thinking about the final places for Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson as central and right back.
Heskey and Rooney will pair up against the USA defence as Steven Gerrard is called to lead. Frank Lampard and Gerrard will together hold the mid-field as the offensive game turns into a more tactical one. Robert Green might also replace David James as he tends to his hurt knee ligaments and Capello wants no more injuries. Gareth Barry is excluded from the line-up for the time being for the battle in Rustenburg this Saturday. Barry who is being given time to heal after his injury said, “I’ve been told I’m not playing against USA to give me more time.” He further added, “I’ll be back in full training with the team from tomorrow.”
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