Rooney injury worries – can he last the World Cup intact?

Once again Wayne Rooney limps off at the tail end of a Manchester United game. Am I the only person beginning to wonder whether he can endure the rigours of a World Cup?

The PFA and Football Writers' Association award winner has scored 33 times this season, offering Utd fans a much needed scoring option following the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez last summer.

United even jumped to 86 league goals over the course of the campaign, a remarkable step up from the 68 accrued last season.

So he’s helped to up the goal tally and his manager doesn’t seem too concerned about Rooney’s latest injury.

“I think he's aggravated the groin again. I don't think it's serious – he'll be OK for England,” said United manager Alex Ferguson.

Well, we’ve been here before, but at least this time England aren’t alone in having injury worries.

Spain’s Fabregas, Torres and Xavi may struggle to play regularly in South Africa.

Holland’s Robin van Persie is only just coming back from injury.

The good news is Socceroo legend Harry Kewell will probably be fit after missing the last twelve years with hair band problems. That’s good news for everyone else but not Australia.

Rooney, Torres and Messi – can they deliver?

They are probably the three best players in the world right now; Wayne Rooney is in explosive form, Lionel Messi appears unstoppable with the ball at his feet, and an injury-ravaged season hasn’t prevented Fernando Torres from scoring goals when fit. It will be a privilege to see all three in action during the World Cup. The question is: can they deliver?

Has England World Cup hero lost his marbles?

World Cup 1966 hero Geoff Hurst thinks England won't win the main prize in South Africa this year. While he's not alone in holding this perfectly reasonable view, Hurst's pessimism is backed by some bizarre reasoning.