On This Day in 2006: Wayne Rooney passed fit for World Cup duty

SOCCER England
(Image credit: Martin Rickett)

England striker Wayne Rooney was passed fit to play in the World Cup on this day in 2006.

The 20-year-old became a major doubt for the tournament in Germany after suffering a metatarsal injury just six weeks before his country’s opening game.

Optimism that the Manchester United player would be available to Three Liones manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was fuelled by the sight of him kicking a ball during training sessions with the national team.

Wayne Rooney suffered injury just weeks before the 2006 World Cup after being challenged by Chelsea’s Paulo Ferreira at Stamford Bridge

Wayne Rooney suffered injury just weeks before the 2006 World Cup after being challenged by Chelsea’s Paulo Ferreira at Stamford Bridge (Jane Mingay/PA)

After flying in from England’s training base in Baden-Baden, he underwent a CT scan on his broken foot at a Manchester hospital before being deemed fit for selection.

Rooney’s metatarsal issue came four years after then-England captain David Beckham faced a race to be fit to feature at the 2002 World Cup due to a similar injury.

Rooney – who sustained the problem in his club’s 3-0 loss at Chelsea on April 29 – later said he “should never have gone to that World Cup”, while also revealing he kept quiet after suffering a subsequent groin tear in training.

After sitting out England’s 1-0 Group B win over Paraguay, he returned as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 success over Trinidad and Tobago before starting the 2-2 draw with Sweden and both of his country’s knockout games.

Wayne Rooney, second right, was sent off during England's quarter-final exit at the hands of Portugal following a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho

Wayne Rooney, second right, was sent off during England’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Portugal following a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho (Martin Rickett/PA)

His World Cup ended with a quarter-final red card against Portugal for an adjudged stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, with Eriksson’s side losing that tie in Gelsenkirchen on penalties.

Current Derby manager Rooney scored a record 53 goals for his country, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s total of 49 in September 2015.

His 120 caps, won between 2003 and 2018, is the most of any England outfield player and second overall, behind former goalkeeper Peter Shilton (125).

Read more
Wayne Rooney in action for England against the Republic of Ireland in May 2013.
'I would have played for Ireland if they had called me up to the first team!': Wayne Rooney reveals his international career could have been incredibly different if he had received a first team call-up at 16
'I was f***king fuming - I can only describe it as an absolute circus. The sports writers, journalists, and families and wives all in the same hotel, there were stories breaking every day': Coleen Rooney and Gary Neville on England’s World Cup WAG furore
13 October 1993 Rotterdam, World Cup Qualifying match, Netherlands v England, Ronald Koeman scores a goal from a free kick. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)
‘Yes, Ronald Koeman should have been sent off against England in 1993, but David Platt also could have stayed on his feet – that’s never mentioned’ Former Three Lions star on playing in one of the country’s most infamous matches
Wayne Rooney of England, his wife Coleen Rooney and their children Kit Joseph Ronney, Klay Anthony Rooney, Kai Wayne Rooney and Cass Mac Rooney pose for a photo pitside prior to the International Friendly match between England and United States at Wembley Stadium on November 15, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
'Our house got spray painted everywhere, there were smashed windows. It was our families that got the backlash then and that wasn’t fair. Wayne couldn't go into Liverpool for a while': Coleen Rooney reveals violent reaction to Manchester United move
SHIZUOKA, JAPAN - JUNE 21: WM 2002 in JAPAN und KOREA, Shizuoka; Match 57/VIERTELFINALE/ENGLAND - BRASILIEN (ENG - BRA) 1:2; hintere Reihe v.li.: EDMILSON, LUCIO, Gilberto SILVA, ROQUE JUNIOR, TORWART MARCUS, CAFU; vordere Reihe v.li.: RONALDINHO, RONALDO, Roberto CARLOS, RIVALDO, KLEBERSON/BRA TEAM/MANNSCHAFT (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
‘Brazil didn’t panic against England in 2002 – their style of play made it easier to defend, even with 10 men, and we held on without too much fear of losing’: Selecao star reveals confidence during World Cup quarter-final
Paul Gascoigne and England team-mates celebrate in the "Dentist's Chair" after the midfielder's goal against Scotland at Euro 96.
'I won that dentist’s chair challenge in Hong Kong before Euro 96 - that might be my biggest claim to fame’: England international opens up on infamous night out in Asia
Latest in
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Latest in News
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report