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Ref Jeff Selogilwe slammed Roo’s behaviour in England’s final warm-up game.

Selogilwe booked the hitman during the 3-0 win over local outfit Platinum Stars and said: “Rooney insulted me, he said ‘F*** you’.

“He must learn to control his temper. He could get sent off in the World Cup, especially if he uses this kind of language.

“If he insults a referee like me, then he will use that vulgar language to other referees as well.”

The fiery Manchester United star was red-carded in England’s last World Cup finals game - the 2006 quarter-final - for stamping on Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho.

Selogilwe added: “Maybe the England players thought ‘This is just a friendly, we can do what we like and the referees are not that professional’.

“It’s a shame. 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.

“So I was very disappointed in Rooney because he is my favourite player.”

And then with a smile he added: “Actually he is still my favourite player. He apologised to me and gave me the shirt he was wearing.”

ENGLAND have arrived in South Africa ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals.

They landed at Johannesburg international airport at around 8am this morning after an 11-hour flight.

David Beckham, who is expected to take up a coaching role after being ruled out through injury, was one of the first off the plane.

He was follow by Peter Crouch and Three Lions boss Fabio Capello.

Met by local media, the Italian said: “I hope the World Cup will be a big success for South Africa and also for my team. Thank you. It is good to be here.”

Security was tight as the squad left their British Airways plane with dozens of guards surrounding them.

And they were soon on their way by coach to the Rustenburg training complex where they will be based for the tournament.

Capello yesterday handed the squad a welcome boost by agreeing to stay on as coach until after Euro 2012.

Leighton Baines: failed his final audition with a nervous display against Mexico. A pity that because he did alright on his debut against Egypt. Didn’t do himself any favours, though, by admitting that he might get homesick.

Darren Bent: a bit unlucky given the goals he’s scored for Sunderland this season and the goals Emile Heskey hasn’t scored for Aston Villa. That said, the game against Japan was another missed opportunity. All told, his game looks a bit short for this level.
Michael Dawson: entitled to feel unlucky after an excellent season, especially when he’s been rejected in favour of a half-fit player in Ledley King and, in Jamie Carragher, someone who needed persuading to return from international retirement.

Tom Huddlestone: another one who’s shown great consistency this season. Nevertheless, he still looked a little cumbersome against Japan. Perhaps he falls between two stalls, neither fulfilling the holding role nor having the zip to be an attacking midfielder.

Adam Johnson: this tournament probably arrived six months too early for the winger. Because if he’d been exposed to a few more senior squads Johnson would have had the confidence to augment his undoubted ability. Definitely one for next time.

Scott Parker: could represent Fabio Capello’s one mistake because, with or without Gareth Barry, England don’t possess a proper ‘digger’, someone who relishes breaking up the play. Against the very best teams that’s absolutely vital.

Theo Walcott: the big surprise of course. But if you look purely at his form these past few months, he doesn’t deserve to get anywhere near the World Cup. Its time to forget that hat-trick against Croatia and start learning the game. Only then will that promise be properly fulfilled.

England’s final 23-man squad for World Cup 2010:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

The 31-year-old, who now plays for Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos, was replaced midway through the second half of the 2-0 home defeat to South Korea on Monday and was struggling with a sore ankle during training on Friday.

“Shunsuke needs a bit more time to get back to his best condition and I am not sure if he can play,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said, according to Kyodo News.

Sunday’s game against England  is Japan’s penultimate warm-up match prior to the start of the World Cup, where the Blue Samurai have been drawn in Group E alongside Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.

The three-time Asian champions are desperate for a positive result against Fabio Capello’s side having lost three of their last four home games.

Plenty for Capello to explore tomorrow with uncertainty still surrounding as many as four different positions in his team to face the USA in England’s first World Cup game. Will be the last chance for a number of fringe players, but also an opportunity to look at Wayne Rooney playing alone as the main central striker. Read more…

On a night of Mexican waves, Wembley waved goodbye to England but Fabio Capello can wave goodbye to any hopes of winning the World Cup unless he deploys Steven Gerrard more centrally. Only when Gerrard was liberated from his left-sided wilderness did England look a team close to finding a path to the promised land in South Africa.

England were leading 2-1 by the time of Gerrard’s switch inside, first-half goals from Ledley King and Peter Crouch masking a multitude of sins. Just before the break, Guillermo Franco pulled one back and Capello’s face bore the look of thunder. Gerrard and James Milner swapped positions and suddenly England had more balance, more conviction.
The positives were clear: Robert Green impressed in goal during his 45 minutes, making two exceptional saves from Carlos Vela, Glen Johnson confirmed his attacking talent with a sublime strike, Theo Walcott looked lively down the right while Adam Johnson delivered a sparkling late cameo.

The negatives were difficult to avoid: England’s back-line looked vulnerable to sudden attacks and central midfield lacked substance until Gerrard shifted inside. The scoreline will have engendered some hope but the way Mexico’s nimble ball-players passed their way through England was alarming. Read more…

England coach Fabio Capello has made several surprise selections in his preliminary 30-man World Cup squad.

Uncapped duo Adam Johnson and Michael Dawson both feature along with Dawson’s Tottenham team-mate Tom Huddlestone.

Jamie Carragher comes out of international retirement, while fellow defender Ledley King and the injured Gareth Barry have also been picked.

Stephen Warnock, Scott Parker and Darren Bent are chosen, with the final 23-man squad to be announced by 1 June.

Under Fifa regulations, Capello is permitted to bring players into his 23-man squad who were not included in the preliminary party.

But that would be an unusual move, meaning the final party he takes to this summer’s finals in South Africa is likely to come from the one he has already named.

England play Mexico at Wembley on 24 May and Japan in Austria six days later as part of a pre-tournament training camp.
That will provide Capello with time to work with a much-changed squad and put the finishing touches to his preparations.

The Italian has included 23-year-old Joe Hart among his three goalkeepers after the Manchester City player enjoyed an outstanding season on loan at Birmingham. Read more…

David Beckham’s dream of playing in a fourth World Cup looks over after he tore an Achilles tendon in AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Chievo on Sunday.

Beckham was unchallenged when he suffered the injury and hobbled off in pain before being stretchered away.

The 34-year-old was hoping to be part of England’s World Cup squad in June, but instead will fly to Finland on Monday for specialist surgery.

“A rupture of the Achilles tendon is suspected,” said an AC Milan statement.

Beckham, who is in his second loan stint with Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, will now almost certainly not be fit for the World Cup in South Africa which starts on 11 June.
Consultant sports physician Dr Tom Crisp told BBC Radio 5 live: “It’s remotely possible he may be running in three months. The chances of him being fit to play for England are non-existent.”

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said that the Englishman will be out for “probably five or six months”. Read more…

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Wayne Rooney is to blame for the knee injury that could rule him out of the league match at Wolves.

Rooney, 24, had been struggling with the problem before the Carling Cup final but still played in England’s win over Egypt on Wednesday at Wembley.

“I don’t think he should have played [on Wednesday],” said Ferguson.

“It is his own enthusiasm that has caused it. His problem is that he can’t say no,” the Scot added.

“He told us on Sunday he was feeling his knee. Then all of a sudden people put an arm around his shoulder with England and he wants to play.

“[England boss] Fabio Capello has to pick his best team. A win was important so I don’t blame him at all.

“I was more disappointed with Wayne. Why didn’t he come off? I can’t believe it.”
Rooney is a doubt for what would be his third match in six days as Manchester United travel to Wolves looking to leapfrog Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table. Read more…

Terry was playing for England for the first time since losing the captaincy after his alleged affair with the ex-girlfriend of Wayne Bridge.

John Terry felt he got a good reception from England’s fans during Wednesday’s 3-1 win against Egypt at Wembley.

The Chelsea captain, 29, said: “The way they supported me and got behind me was fantastic, I really appreciate that.

“There were a few jeers but I can handle that. They are fully entitled to their opinion.”

England boss Fabio Capello stripped Terry of the captaincy following public revelations and allegations about the defender’s private life.

The saga continued as Bridge made himself unavailable for England, saying his position in the squad was “untenable and potentially divisive”.
The Manchester City left-back also refused to shake Terry’s hand when the pair met during the league match at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Read more…