The Guardian:
Sven-Goran Eriksson is prepared to go to any lengths to keep Wayne Rooney in his World Cup plans. His patience would even stretch as far as a recovery date of July 9 for the forward's fractured metatarsal. On that day, the final of the tournament will be played in Berlin. Why would the England manager do that? "To win the final," he said. It is no part of Eriksson's duties to assume his side will have returned home before that issue can arise.
His tenacious hope that Rooney will take part keeps on being tainted, however, by realism. The England team doctor Leif Sward will travel today for talks with his Manchester United counterpart Mike Stone but Eriksson is not expecting any great encouragement, even if the club says the attacker could resume training in six weeks. "Miracles happen in life now and then," said the manager, giving a frank indication of the odds against Rooney. The player will remain in Manchester until he is fit, whether, as Eriksson put it, "that is before, during or after the World Cup".
After some five years in the job, the anguish of England is getting to Eriksson at last. "Shit," he said, when asked for his immediate reaction to Rooney's injury at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. "Even the Chelsea lads thought that." The worrying will not be Eriksson's responsibility for much longer and the announcement of Steve McClaren as his successor seems to be imminent. The Swede denied that the England coach was merely a self-effacing member of the retinue. "I don't want to have people around me just saying yes," he insisted. "I want opinions we can discuss and of course he has an opinion."
Eriksson:
"I've tried for three days and all of the time his phone is switched off. I've left a message, but I've spoken to his agent so it's the same more or less."
United statement:
"Despite stories in the press we believe Wayne is still six weeks away from full training.
"We are not prepared to discuss anything specific in relation to his injury or his rehabilitation."