image: telegraph.co.uk

Sir Alex Ferguson's increasing frustration with the FA's (understandable) eagerness for Wayne Rooney to play in the World Cup is no less than the Manchester United boss deserves. He's spent years undermining England friendlies by constantly withdrawing players. I still get angry when I remember the nadir of fergie's meddling. In 2002 he withdrew Paul Scholes from an England friendly against Portugal, supposedly through injury, only to play him for Manchester United just four days later.

Now Sven is suggesting he may play Rooney in the final group game against Sweden, which will further enrage the grumpy Glaswegian.