England Squad

[Kenneth]

and it's over - anyone got the link for Brazil vs Tanzania

http://www.tbc.go.tz/

[PTP]

[Mr Darko]

Did anyone catch the first half of the England game? Was wondering how they played - were Gerrard & Johnson playing well?

[Shaggy]

England were dog****, apparently Capello went mad at half-time. Johnson gave a penalty away, which was a ridiculous decision. Gerrard set up the half's only goal.

[Shaggy]

He's such a prick.

The referee from England's warm-up game has warned Wayne Rooney to "control his temper" or risk a red card in the World Cup, which starts on Friday.

Rooney was booked in Monday's 3-0 win over Platinum Stars and match official Jeff Selogilwe claimed the striker insulted him with "vulgar language".

Selogilwe said: "He must learn to control his temper. He could get sent off in the World Cup."

Rooney, 24, apologised after the game and gave the referee his shirt.

Ahead of the match against Platinum Stars, England vice-captain Frank Lampard had warned his team-mates that discipline on the field will be a key factor if they are to be successful in the tournament.

He also rejected suggestions that Rooney, who was was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho at the last World Cup in 2006, might lose his cool again.

Rooney satisfied with England performance

"Wayne has matured a lot as a player over the last few years as we all know, so I don't see that one happening," he stated.

"It is so important to have 11 men on the pitch because small details are so important and when you lose a player it can change anything."

However, South African referee Selogilwe took a different view after Rooney came on for the second half in Monday's warm-up match.

England's World Cup campaign gets under way with a Group C match against the United States on Saturday and Selogilwe conceded he was disappointed with the Manchester United player's attitude.

The official said: “Rooney insulted me. He said ‘F*** you.’ To me it looks like he insults people and fouls other players.

“If he insults a referee like me, then he will use that vulgar language to other referees as well. He must learn to control his temper or he could get sent off at the World Cup.

“Maybe the England players undermined this game and thought ‘this is only a friendly and we can do what we like and the referees are not professional.”

He added: "He is a good player when you see him on the TV but when you see him on the pitch, he just keeps on insulting the referees.

"To me, it looks like Rooney insults people and fouls other players. If he insults a referee like me then he will use that vulgar language to other referees as well. I was very disappointed in Rooney because he is my favourite player."

Rooney made a goal for Joe Cole and scored himself late on after Jermain Defoe had given Fabio Capello's side an early lead against the local side.

However, Rooney also appeared to become embroiled in a second-half spat with Platinum Stars' Kagiso Senamela before being booked for dissent.

Tottenham striker Defoe, who scored the opener on Monday, said he did not see Rooney's temperament as an issue.

"If under control, I think Wayne's temper is a good thing," he commented. "He has that fire in his belly. If you take that away from him then he won't be the same player."

[PTP]

heard that this morning and how ****ing arrogant is that to give his shirt to the referee and whats more disapointing is if the ref accepted - it smacks me off "i'm better than you so here have my shirt."

[Neil Young]

He's such a prick.

That "won't be the same player" platitude is such a load of ****e. It's not about turning him into Gentleman Jim - it's about making him focus on the game and not behaving in a yobbish way which is bad for his team.

It's not rocket surgery.

[Kenneth]

heard that this morning and how ****ing arrogant is that to give his shirt to the referee and whats more disapointing is if the ref accepted - it smacks me off "i'm better than you so here have my shirt."

Obviously thinks he is fine to abuse the ref if he then patronises him by giving him a shirt. Complete ****.

[PTP]

Obviously thinks he is fine to abuse the ref if he then patronises him by giving him a shirt. Complete ****.

I don't know who the ref was but he was probably a bit star struck when given the shirt which is a shame.........would have been nice if he turned round and said "apology accepted but you can **** off if you think i am accepting that token gesture you horribles cunt"

[cream]

Hope he does get sent off.

[Chrono]

I hope he doesn't.

[Neil Young]

I don't think it's arrogant to apologise and give someone a peace offering. I think people are being a little harsh!

[PTP]

hmm i see your point - i have no issues with him apologising but the token gesture of his shirt is not really a peace offering - in fact, i bet you he was in the dressing room, one of the englands staff has come in and said "wayne, the refs ****ing pissed off with you - there's no need for it......get in there and apologise" - he's gone in, through gritted teeth said sorry and then thought i know, this poor cunts a no mark, he can have my shirt too as it'd only be binned anyway.

[Neil Young]

Well, you could be right.

Still, while it's best to do the right thing for the right reasons, it's probably better to do the right thing for the wrong reasons than the other way around.

Anyway the fact is he needs to learn to control his temper - he's not a teenager any more.

[Tee]

Now every team knows they can wind up Rooney and he is likely to react. How old is he now? He really needs to mature as a player because he could cost England dearly if he fails to control his awful temper.