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Holland are winning 2-0 against Czech Republic, if that stays the same it's Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be will be, We're going to Germany!

England secured their place in next summer's World Cup finals on Saturday night.

Holland's 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague confirmed England as one of the two leading group runners-up in Europe.

England - 1-0 conquerors of Austria on Saturday afternoon - could yet top Group Six if they defeat current leaders Poland at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

But Sven-Goran Eriksson's men were given a helping hand by the Dutch, with first-half goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Barry Opdam - both created by Chelsea winger Arjen Robben - confirming their place in next summer's showpiece in Germany.

From : Ananova

Gutted..

But as for england,Rooney was chavtastic,Wright Philips fantastic and King..what a star we have emerging there

Just got back from Old Trafford after an excellent night. Been a big critic of the England side and particularly Sven but tonight was pretty much spot on. The only annoying thing was that Shaun Wright-Phillips was subsituted instead of Joe Cole but that is being picky. It was a good attacking performance which saw us get the right result.

First goal was a while in coming after we completely dominated until that point and we could have been two or three up by that point. Their goal was awful defending which was annoying but we made up for it in the end.

I do believe I've witnessed the best player in the world tonight in Wayne Rooney. For all his tempremental problems, he's a genius on the ball and never have I seen anyone bomb forward with the ball causing all sorts of problems with such ease. I also thought Frank Lampard was superb and Ledley King did alright in the holding role but all this talk on the radio about King being ahead of Gerrard is nonsense.

We also looked a lot more of a threat tonight with Wright-Phillips in instead of Beckham.

As for the Couch booing, people said on the radio the booing was for SWP going off rather than Crouch coming on, what a load of bollocks and I wasn't even one of them. Did well when he came on though.

got a weird feeling of deja vu there

Great that copy and paste thing isn't it!

Speaking of Rooney though in that post, I heard a belting song for the lad in our end.

To the tune of Tom Hark by the Piranhas:

I saw my mate the other day
He told me he'd just seen the white Pele
So I asked "who is he?"
"He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney"

Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney

1) I think Sven is a VERY good manager
2) I think Terry should be made captain
3) Even though I am english I never really want them to win. However I want Sven to do well, just to piss the FA off.
4) England's problem is far greater then systems, or managers etc. England play good attacking hight tempo strong football, and when teams attack thats great, as poland *tried* to do last night. However, if anyone sits backs in general English footballers don't have the intelligence, in terms of passing and pressing at different paces or zones.

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Blatter: 'Get tough with Rooney'

Fifa president Sepp Blatter believes England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson should get tough with Wayne Rooney if the teenage striker is to become one of the world's great players.

Rooney's temperament has come in for criticism in recent weeks after he saw red during United's Champions League opener at Villarreal last month, a week after his tantrum in Belfast following a booking while on international duty.

And, as experts continue to debate whether Rooney's aggressive approach should be reined in, Blatter has added his opinion, saying: "When you play at the level he is playing he should be called to order.

"Definitely his managers should be tougher on him. They should tell him 'You are so talented but keep (playing) in the right way'. This guy can go for 15 years but self discipline and respect to the others (is essential)."

The most powerful man in world football, who hopes to invite Rooney to visit him at Fifa's Swiss headquarters, also joked: "I wouldn't say you have to beat him...but maybe a little."

Meanwhile, former Brazilian star Zico has hailed Rooney, saying that "he has the potential to be a legendary player" following his display in England's 1-0 win over Poland which saw Sven-Goran Eriksson's men claim top spot in World Cup qualifying Group Six.

Zico said: "One of Pele's great qualities was that he could take any situation in his stride. From the little I have seen of Wayne, I think he can do that too. Great players always have the habit of being able to rise to the occasion.

"Like Pele used to, they puff out their chests and show the world who is in charge. I like Rooney's play very much. He is dangerous in front of goal but he is a good all-round footballer as well.

"He has the qualities I admire in a striker - pace, awareness and power. He is explosive too. He has the potential to be a legendary player."

Arsenal and French striker Thierry Henry has echoed Zico's sentiments, adding: "I have always said that Wayne Rooney is an amazing player, the kind of striker that any team in the world would like to have.

"He has that sort of forward's instinct you cannot buy and no coach can teach. You are born with it. Of course, you need good team-mates around you to give you the ball and help set up chances.

"But I like the sort of striker who will score all on his own if he wants to, and Rooney has shown again and again that he is capable of doing that.

"He's definitely the sort of player I would pay to watch. I like people who can make me jump off my seat. English football is fortunate to have such a great striker." ITN

BUTT OUT BLATTER
Blatter blast from Sir Alex Fergie tells FIFA boss: Stop messing with my


SIR ALEX FERGUSON has told FIFA president Sepp Blatter to mind his own business after he claimed the Manchester United boss should get tough with Wayne Rooney.

Blatter said bad-boy Rooney should be "called to order" and accused Fergie of not being strict enough with his teenage star.

But the Scot was furious at being told how best to deal with United's £30million striker.

And last night he launched an attack on the FIFA supremo.

"FIFA should concentrate on big issues rather than talking about a 19-year-old Manchester United player," blasted Ferguson.

"Blatter is in a responsible position - people listen to him because he is the head of FIFA. He's in a very important position and I think he should be taking the lead with that.

"But FIFA sometimes take on small issues rather than the big issues. Then they refer the big issues back to the associations rather than dealing with them themselves."

Ferguson said he had no worries about the temperament of Rooney, who won rave reviews for his performance for England against Poland in midweek.

"Wayne's a sensible lad and he's intelligent too," he said. "He knows how to handle things and he doesn't let them affect him on the pitch. As long as we know he can handle it, we can deal with it."

Rooney vowed to clean up his act after losing self-control during England's 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland and then being sent off for United in the Champions League against Villarreal a week later. Rooney, 20 on Monday week, was dismissed for sarcastically applauding referee Kim Milton Nielsen, behaviour that went down badly with Blatter.

"When you play at such a high level you need to be called to order," Blatter said. "His manager should tell him 'You are so talented but now keep the right way otherwise it is not good for the game.'

"He has such a good career in front of him but he needs to learn self-discipline." Mirror