IAN WILKERSON

Weblog: ...and another thing

If Rooney gets crocked, what then for England?

AS a very proud member of Her Majesty's press, I had to laugh at accusations coming from football fans that the newspaper coverage of the John Terry episode was a deliberate attempt to derail England's World Cup chances.

I suppose that as we have used every excuse under the sun for the last 44 years that the media circus that surrounded the then captain's infidelity must be worth a try.

Or, perhaps, there is an underlying message. Maybe we are just not good enough.

I feel like I have gone back eight years as the preparation begins to gather pace.

Before their voyage to Japan, there was an undercurrent that England's hopes would rise and fall on the performance of one player – David Beckham.

Plenty of column inches will be filled about what role he can play in South Africa.

Personally, I'mof the opinion that if the only reason people want him to be included is to boost the publicity and chances of hosting the World Cup in 2018, then stick him in the stands in a suit with a glass of champagne and get him to press the flesh with Fifa's highand mighty.

But the final qualifying game for the 2002 competition against Greece was undoubtedly his finest hour and he has been dining out on it ever since.

His performances at the finals were hindered by his metatarsal injury, but we fell under the spell of one England player being all important.

And now we are here again with Wayne Rooney.

It was hilarious to see Sir Alex Ferguson asked whether Rooney could be as great a player for Manchester United as Beckham.

Anyone who has watched the scouser's performances, particularly this season, would agree that he has already surpassed Beckham in his stature.

Beckham has made the most of his talents, while Rooney is just a freak. If he is not the best player in the world, he is safely entrenched in the top three.

He can take the World Cup by the scruff of the neck or be kicked out of the tournament, but there is going tobe an over-reliance on the Manchester United star and that is another reason to avoid England like the plague in the World Cup outright market.

How many world class players, apart from Rooney, do England possess?

Ashley Cole? He might not make it anyway.

Steven Gerrard? In 2005, there would be no question, but now? Really?

Frank Lampard? If ever there was a time to prove it, it is this summer, but will he grab the bull by thehorns?

England had four that fit into the category in 1966 – Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves, who didn't even play in the final.

Now they have one.

Add to that the lack of a decent goalkeeper and the decline of Rio Ferdinand, then there are just too many questions to answer and, consequently, too much for Rooney to do on his own.

So you can lock me in the Tower now, because I won't be touching 11-2 with a bargepole.