World Cup 2006 News
Don't kill Rooney for his red card, England coach Eriksson says
Jul 2, 2006, 16:58 GMT
Baden-Baden - Outgoing England coach Sven Goran Eriksson pleaded with the British media on Sunday to go easy on Wayne Rooney over the next few years if England are to achieve the success they deserve.
At his last press conference before stepping down as coach, the Swede said Rooney should not be blamed for England's defeat by Portugal in the World Cup quarter-finals despite his sending-off on 62 minutes.
'I think you (the press), much more than me, need Wayne Rooney,' Eriksson said.
'He is the golden boy of English football. Don't kill him, I beg you, because you will need him.
'He is a fantastic player. If he did it with intention or not, leave him, you need him. He has this temperament but I have no hard feelings against him at all and you shouldn't have.
Eriksson said he had consoled Rooney after the sending-off.
'I spoke to Wayne after the game and he says he had no intention to do it,' Eriksson said.
'I went into the referee after the game and he was 100 per cent sure that it was a red card. He told me he hit the other player and he told me exactly where he was hit.'
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
he only did what luis figo did. and figo headbutted a player and got away with it.
I'm beginning again to think Rooney's an idiot. It will be interesting to see if he can learn, but I'm quite unsympathetic now. This is not the first incident with him.
i think its digusting what ronaldo did and i hope dat if he does stay at united he is booed every time he gets the ball, but i think he shud be chucked out of English football he is a trater because no othe rplayer would try and get their team mate sent off.
Rooney is a nice guy its just that christiana Ronaldo is a jerk!
Rooney got what he deserved. It doesn't matter if other players are on a wind up. He should check himslef and keep out of trouble. If you go around stamping on someones nuts you can expect to see an early shower.
Who cares what Ronaldo was doing, Rooney should be looking out for his own game and stamping on someones nuts in front of the ref and then pushing another player is a complete lack of self discipline. He needs to serve a stretch at her majesties pleasure in wormworth scrubs to teach him some self control.
page: 1
TerryJul 2nd, 2006 - 18:53:20
He Pulled a Dennis Rodman, he should be banned.
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