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Rooney, Ferdinand to miss England's US tour
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-12 09:49
Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand will miss England's
post-season mini-tour of the United States.
Wayne Rooney(L) and Rio Ferdinand, seen here
in 2004, will miss England's post-season mini-tour of the United States.
[AFP] |
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson acceded to a request from United manager
Alex Ferguson for Rooney to be given a break rather than taking part in matches
against the United States on May 24 and Colombia four days later.
Ferdinand is being allowed to rest a knee injury following a long domestic
season.
Eriksson's team rota could also be without any Liverpool players involved in
the Champions League final while Real Madrid duo David Beckham and Michael Owen
could still be required by the Spanish giants for domestic duty.
Chelsea's John Terry and Frank Lampard are already out of the squad, which
will be announced Thursday, to undergo surgery on toe injuries.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and Newcastle duo Kieron Dyer and Nicky Butt are
also injured.
However, Erikkson has insisted that while he might be without some
established names, the chance to give younger players such as Shaun
Wright-Phillips, Andrew Johnson and Stewart Downing further international
experience made the tour a worthwhile exercise.
An FA spokesman told the organisation's official website, www.thefa.com:
"This tour has always been an opportunity for Sven and the coaching staff to
look at some new players a year before the World Cup in Germany.
"Next season, opportunities will be at a premium for Sven to look at new
players - so he feels this is a great platform for some of the Premier League's
bright young stars who have yet to become established in the England team.
"It will be an opportunity to play against non-European opposition the summer
before the World Cup which nowadays is few and far between due to larger
qualifying groups.
"Sven believes this is very important as we will expect to play teams from
outside Europe in Germany - subject to qualification.
"The next opportunity for a tour will realistically not be until 2009, due to
the large qualification groups for Euro 2008."
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