England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

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Rooney won't start

14 Jun 2006 - 16:47:16

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England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed that Gary Neville is a major doubt for Thursday's Group B clash against Trinidad & Tobago but says Wayne Rooney is "match-fit".

Neville sustained a calf strain during training on Wednesday and will have a scan to determine the severity of the problem.

Eriksson also said Rooney is unlikely to start against the Soca Warriors but could come on as a substitute.

He said: "For me Rooney is match-fit but let me sleep on it, I'll decide what to do with Rooney tomorrow.

"There has been no row with Manchester United about Rooney, there is no dispute at all. I will talk about that tomorrow after the game.

"Almost certainly he won't be starting though.

Gary Neville has a calf problem and is very doubtful for tomorrow. He'll have a scan and we'll know more about it after that. Jamie Carragher or Owen Hargreaves will take his place if he can't play.

"I think we'll have a better performance against Trinidad than against Paraguay.

"We need to play better football all the time, for 90 minutes, not just for half of the game."