Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole believes Wayne Rooney’s ability to finish the simplest of chances is what has made him so deadly this season. The 24-year-old is in the best form of his career having scored 34 goals in all competitions so far, and has been an integral player for the Red Devils.

However, a recent ankle injury proved telling as United crashed out of the UEFA Champions League to Bayern Munich, while seeing their Premier League title hopes dealt a huge blow with defeat by Chelsea followed by a lacklustre draw with Blackburn Rovers. Rooney has always been capable of scoring goals of the highest quality, but Cole believes the fact that the England international is now finishing more rudimentary chances is what has made him one of the most prolific forwards in the world.

Cole told Press Association Sport: “The good thing with Wayne this season is that he has got lots of tap-ins or goals from eight or ten yards, and those make big things in a season.

“His work-rate has always been the same and he has always been a team player, but to get into those areas and get more goals it has been absolutely superb. He has really stepped up to the plate and with (Cristiano) Ronaldo leaving he has come out and blossomed. He is now showing his full potential.”

Cole, however, feels it is vital that England do not rely too much on Rooney if they are to harbour hopes of success at the 2010 World Cup South Africa. The former Everton player is quite rightly expected to be a integral player in Fabio Capello’s team, but the man who scored once in 15 appearances for the Three Lions between 1995 and 2002 feels the strongest international sides have been the ones that are able to work well together.

“In England, I feel we sometimes believe that one player can win us the World Cup,” said Cole. “All teams have special players and England’s is Wayne Rooney. However, the World Cup is not won by one player. For us to win it every player on a given day is going to have to play to their maximum.”

Cole’s managerial goals
Cole was speaking in Hong Kong, where he will lead a team in the Soccer Sevens tournament in the city next month. The 38-year-old recently had a spell coaching at Huddersfield Town, and he admitted he is keen to step into management in the future.

“I don’t want to close any doors on anything,” he said. “I love football. Given the opportunity I would like to coach at a football club again and learn what you need to learn. but my ultimate goal is to try and manage a team given the opportunity.”

Ricardo Carvalho added to Chelsea’s injury woes when the English Premier League title-chasers said the defender could be out of action for at least a month.

Centre-half Carvalho suffered ankle ligament damage during Chelsea’s 5-0 win away to basement club Portsmouth, a victory that left them just a point behind leaders Manchester United. If the injury is worse than first feared, Carvalho could miss the rest of this season.

“The club will be able to determine over the next 24 hours whether the injury requires corrective surgery, however we can confirm at this point that he’ll be out for at least four weeks.”

- A Chelsea club statement on Carvalho

“Chelsea can confirm that Ricardo Carvalho suffered ankle ligament damage in last night’s game against Portsmouth,” a club spokesman said Thursday. “The club will be able to determine over the next 24 hours whether the injury requires corrective surgery, however we can confirm at this point that he’ll be out for at least four weeks.”

Carvalho’s injury has left Chelsea with just two first-choice central defenders in Brazilian Alex and captain John Terry. The Portuguese international’s setback comes just days after right-back Branislav Ivanovic was ruled out for a month following a knee injury sustained during the 1-1 draw at Blackburn last weekend.

The Blues have been without left-back Ashley Cole (ankle), midfielder Michael Essien (knee) and right-back Jose Bosingwa (ankle) for much of the current season.

Stuttgart and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira could miss June’s 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa after damaging knee ligaments during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Bayern Munich.

The 22-year-old was injured tackling Germany team-mate Miroslav Klose in the first-half and is expected to miss the whole of April, but he should not need an operation. Bayern’s defeat in Munich saw them lose top place in the Bundesliga to Schalke 04 who beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 also on Saturday with two goals from ex-Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi.

Stuttgart’s medical staff say Khedira should be back for their last two Bundesliga matches before the season ends on May 9, with Germany coach Joachim Loew set to announce his World Cup squad the week before.

Khedira has won two caps for Germany and came on as a second-half substitute in this month’s 1-0 defeat by Argentina in a friendly.

He is the second German player to announce he is in danger of missing the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 11. Hamburg’s Marcell Jansen revealed he has an ankle injury which could also keep him out of the tournament.

Germany, who finished third as hosts of the 2006 World Cup, have drawn Africa Cup of Nations finalists Ghana, Australia and Serbia in Group D. They begin their campaign against Australia on 13 June in Durban.

David Beckham hopes to made a “swift and full recovery” from the injury which will rule him out of the 2010 World Cup South Africa, his spokesman said today. The 34-year-old tore his Achilles tendon playing for AC Milan last night and will miss the rest of the season.

“David is on his way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury,” a statement on his official website read. “He is understandably upset but wants to thank everyone for their messages of support. He hopes to make a swift and full recovery.”

“He is understandably upset but wants to thank everyone for their messages of support.
He hopes to make a swift and full recovery.”

- A statement on David Beckham’s official website about the player’s Achilles tendon injury

Beckham, who will be 35 in May, will be examined by Finnish surgeon Dr Sakari Orava at his Turku clinic this afternoon, and is expected to go under the knife later today. Some have suggested the injury, suffered in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Chievo, could jeopardise the free-kick specialist’s career, but Orava believes he can make a complete recovery.

“Usually yes,” Orava told Sky Sports News. “Top athletes usually heal well but it’s a few months until you are back at the same level as you were before.

“I don’t think it is a big difference to be (aged) 25 or 35, it will be three, four, five months. Most of these patients come back at the same level, even in a top soccer player.”

Earlier, in a statement released to Press Association Sport, England coach Fabio Capello said: “We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup.

“David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the
World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow. I am very sad.”

- Fabio Capello on David Beckham

“I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support, as did Franco Baldini. David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow.”

It is expected to be three months at the very earliest before Beckham can run, and double that before he has a chance of playing again. More likely he will be out for the remainder of 2010. Capello added: “I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury.”

Beckham’s spokesman told The Sun: “He’s devastated by the injury. He’s fearful of what it could mean for his World Cup hopes. We will see the full extent of the injury. Victoria is flying out to him immediately because of the injury. She’s naturally worried about him.”

Beckham was only in Italy to give himself the best possible chance of becoming the first England player to feature in four World Cups. The injury occurred with no opposition player near him in yesterday’s win at the San Siro.

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Netherlands midfielder Johan Neeskens scored the fastest goal in a World Cup Final after 90 seconds against West Germany in 1974.

Rinus Michels’ revered side were regarded as the best team at the tournament with their silky and dynamic ‘Total Football’ taking the game by storm.

With a talented side featuring the likes of Neeskens, Ruud Krol, Johnny Rep and led by the magnificent Johann Cruyff on the pitch, the Dutch played some magnificent football en route to the final.

That momentum looked set to continue in the final against the hosts as the Netherlands scored before West Germany had even touched the ball.

A patient build-up saw Cruyff burst into the area and catch the opposition unawares with Uli Hoeness bringing him down as he closed in on goal a minute into the match. Midfielder Neeskens stepped up to convert the historic kick beyond Sepp Maier to give the Oranje a dream start.

Their joy did not last long, however, as English referee Jack Taylor awarded West Germany a penalty which Paul Breitner converted and Gerd Muller scored a winner two minutes before half-time.

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Fabio Capello today insisted he is still happy dealing with the most important challenge of his life, despite the latest scandal to hit the England team.It is understood the Football Association are reviewing security procedures after an apparent secret recording of conversations between players and coaches before the Egypt friendly came to light. The FA have yet to make a complaint to the police about the bugging, reportedly at The Grove hotel in Hertfordshire, because they are still waiting to have access to the recording. They have, however, taken legal steps to ensure the conversations remain under wraps.

Capello refused to answer direct questions on the subject today, labelling it a “private problem”, but, speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi, the Italian said: “It’s a challenge always to be England manager, but the challenge for me is always important because, at my age, without a challenge I stay home and can go on holiday.

“I like the challenge and this will be the most important challenge of my life. To be England manager was one of my dreams and I am really happy to be England manager. I would not swap my position with (Italy coach) Marcello Lippi, I prefer to be England manager.”

Brazil and Germany have both played 92 matches, the most by any nation, but have played each other only once in the World Cup: the 2002 Final.

The South American side won that match in Yokohama 2-0 thanks to a second-half brace from Ronaldo, who finished the tournament as top scorer with eight goals, to win the trophy for a fifth time.

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball for the best player at the tournament, becoming the first keeper in history to win the award.

Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup with Portugal as he requires further surgery on a knee injury, the Premier League club have confirmed.

Bosingwa had been back in light training after knee surgery but has now been ruled out for the season because another operation is required.

That means he is unavailable for Chelsea’s challenge for a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. It also means he will not be able to play for Portugal in the World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Chelsea assistant boss Ray Wilkins confirmed Bosingwa, who has played 57 games for Chelsea since signing from Porto for £16.2million in May 2008, needed a second operation.

The 27-year-old right-back suffered the injury against Aston Villa in October. Wilkins said: “Bosingwa will be out for the season. He will have another operation on his knee and that is him out of the World Cup as well.”