Source: Daily_Mail
Rooney is the talk of world football as national bosses gather in South Africa
Sun City was sunny enough but the warmth which enveloped Fabio Capello came from the words of his World Cup rivals as they lined up to praise Wayne Rooney.[LNB]Germany's Joachim Low dubbed him 'unstoppable'. Others offered 'extra-special' or 'complete' or 'influential'. Only Portugal's Carlos Queiroz dared insist Cristiano Ronaldo was still the best footballer in the world. [LNB]Capello has a striker who is expected to take South Africa by storm in June and he admits he was fortunate to inherit him. [LNB] Kisses from the top of the world: Wayne Rooney is in the form of his life[LNB]'Wayne is an extraordinary player, talented and willing to learn,' said the England manager. 'Sir Alex Ferguson has taught him so much that I've only had to polish him by telling him to make sure he plays inside the box and continues to score goals.'[LNB]Capello believes Ronaldo's departure from Manchester United has helped Rooney to prosper, with 27 goals for his club this season, 19 in the last 19 games. Ronaldo has an equally impressive 18 goals in 17 starts for Real Madrid.[LNB]The pair clashed in Germany four years ago, when Ronaldo winked as Rooney was sent off, and they will be among the main attractions in South Africa in the summer.[LNB]'Rooney is doing very well,' said Queiroz. 'But Ronaldo's the best in the world and I hope he'll come through the World Cup having scored lots of goals and still the best player in the world. [LNB]'If he does, he can help Portugal to big success in South Africa.[LNB]'He is doing fantastic for Real. I am sure he is happier now he's in Spain. You don't take that kind of decision, to leave Manchester United, if you are happy there, right?'[LNB] Simply the best: Rooney (left) and Ronaldo will be the star turns in South Africa[LNB]Queiroz, who had two spells as Ferguson's assistant, added: 'I worked with Rooney for many years. He is a fantastic player and a great professional who is getting better all the time, but Cristiano is the best in the world.'[LNB]Other World Cup coaches gathered in Sun City for a FIFA workshop talked excitedly about how Rooney's form will offer England a different dimension. [LNB]'Wayne who? Wayne? Wayne? Who is that?' said Low smiling, doing little to change stereotypes about the German sense of humour. 'No, I know him all right. He's one of the best strikers in the world. [LNB]'I don't say who is best because players are different. Ronaldo is among the best, but very different.[LNB]'Rooney is in unbelievable form. Whether it is the English League, the Champions League or for his country, nobody can stop him at the moment. [LNB]'My feeling when I see him is that he is unstoppable. He has everything.' [LNB]Algeria and Slovenia must find a way to halt Rooney in the group games. [LNB]Algeria boss Rabah Saadane, whose side face England in Cape Town, said: 'When I look at Rooney, I see a player who is growing day after day, getting better all the time, he is at the summit. [LNB]'He's one of the top two in the world. And if he is not the best yet, then he can be that man and very soon. I hope he plays at this level all the way through to the World Cup, even if that is not good for Algeria. [LNB]'The whole world is waiting to see what he can do in South Africa.' [LNB] Head boy: Rooney is scoring goals from over the field with all parts of his body[LNB]Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek agreed. 'Rooney is somebody who makes his team win and that's the best thing you can say about any player,' said Kek, whose side meet England in Port Elizabeth. [LNB]'He can think of himself of being at the same level as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, in the world's top three.' [LNB]Raddy Antic, coach of Serbia, one of the teams who could face England in the first knockout round, credits Ferguson with Rooney's progress. [LNB]'He is very lucky to have a great coach,' said Antic. 'It helps that Sir Alex is still very young in his head and wants to work with him. I look at Rooney and see a complete player, a comprehensive player, someone who works so hard but then scores goals that matter. He'll do whatever his team needs.[LNB]'That's the mark of a great player.'[LNB]Australia manager Pim Verbeek, another who could face England in round two, expects Rooney to give his country the edge. [LNB]'There is very little between the big teams like Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, England, France, Brazil but Rooney can make that difference,' said Verbeek. 'To win the biggest games, you need players who are extra special and Rooney is extra special.'[LNB]Rooney's two-goal display against AC Milan last week has reverberated around the world and South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira added: 'I saw the game and what he did was amazing. He's in the best form of his life. He made the difference.'[LNB]In truth, there was a World Cup coach unwilling to gush about Rooney. 'England? Why would I talk about England?' snapped the awkward France boss Raymond Domenech. 'They are not in our group.' [LNB] United and Liverpool debts alarm UEFA: Premier League clubs owe more than rest of Europe put togetherUnited will win the title! Vidic warns Chelsea their lead at the top won't lastManchester United revive interest in £45m Valencia hotshot David VillaOwen won't be in South Africa if he doesn't play more, says CapelloRoo's the best goal-scorer of them all? 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