The World Cup

[faceless]

Rooney tried to storm Portugal dressing room
Oliver Holt In Baden-Baden

BLAZING-mad Wayne Rooney tried to burst into Portugal's changing room to get at Cristiano Ronaldo after England's agonising World Cup defeat. Rooney, 20, was hell-bent on a confrontation after his Manchester United teammate appeared to encourage the referee to send him off but senior England players warned the emotional striker he would wreck his career if he sparked a mass brawl with the Portuguese team. They managed to head off the flash point by persuading Rooney to get straight on the England bus at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen. Last night the dejected England squad jetted home after Saturday's penalty shoot-out agony.

The 20-year-old striker had sat in England's dressing room for almost 90 minutes after he was red-carded - working himself into a towering rage over his Manchester United teammates part in the sending off and by the time England had lost in the agonising penalty shoot-out he was ready to explode. But as he started to storm towards Portugal's dressing room he was stopped by teammates who begged him to see sense.

They warned that if he started a mass brawl it would earn him a long ban from international football and potentially ruin his career. They managed to persuaded him to head straight for the England bus while the Portuguese players were still changing.

FA security men Terry Wise and Ray Whitworth escorted the still-fuming England striker through a media interview area at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen and walked him to the door of the bus. As Rooney passed journalists he stared at the floor and refused to answer questions. It was more than 15 minutes before any other players emerged.

Rooney was sent off in the 62nd minute of the quarter final clash after he appeared to stamp on the groin of Chelsea's Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho. As the Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo stood seemingly making up his mind, Ronaldo sprinted 40 yards to complain. Rooney, clearly incensed by his Old Trafford colleague's actions, pushed Ronaldo away. Elizondo then reached for the red card - and Rooney was off. Ronaldo was then seen by millions of TV viewers winking at the Portuguese coaching staff on the touchline.

His antics caused uproar, with BBC pundit Alan Shearer saying he would not be surprised if Rooney punched the winger the next time they meet on the training ground. The precocious 21-year-old star appeared to be trying to wind Rooney up before the teams even kicked off. He walked up to Rooney and nudged him with his head, made a comment and sauntered off.

An unrepentant Ronaldo yesterday said he had no sympathy for Rooney - and denied trying to get him sent off. He said: "Why would I feel sorry for him? I don't feel sorry for Wayne. People are saying that the referee gave a red card because I spoke with him and asked him to show a red card but that is not true. It was not my fault. I don't care who says that - I didn't get him sent off. I complained to the referee about the foul but I didn't ask for a red card. I said 'ref this is foul' but I did not say 'red card' because Wayne is my friend and I play at the same team."

The hostility between the two players signals potential fireworks if they both turn up for training at Manchester United in a few weeks. But last night speculation was growing that Ronaldo may not go back to Old Trafford after he admitted reports that he was interested in a move to Real Madrid are true.

Last night the dejected England squad arrived back home to the polite applause of 200 fans - a stark contrast to the rapturous reception that had been expected when they were predicting a World Cup triumph. The players trudged down the steps of the plane onto the tarmac at Stansted Airport.

Coach Sven Goran Erikkson and girlfriend Nancy dell' Olio led a grim-faced procession down the plane's steps. Victoria Beckham held the hands of sons Brooklyn and Romeo while David carried baby Cruz. Other southern-based players, including Joe Cole and girlfriend Carly Zucker, Frank Lampard and Elen Rives, Peter Crouch, Theo Walcott and Melanie Slade all followed. They were joined by Sol Campbell and John Terry.

But they angered many of the fans who had waited in the searing heat to greet them by leaving via a rear entrance without saying thank you. Colin Merryweather, 44, who was with 10-year-old son Charlie said: "This just about sums them up. I have spent thousands following them all around the world and they can't even be bothered to stop and say hello to the children. They need to sort themselves out. They could have given us a wave."

Meanwhile, the squad's northern-based stars waited on the plan for the second leg of the flight. They included Rooney travelling without girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin. He was the only player to travel without a partner. Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Steve Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were due to land in Manchester. But a massive thunderstorm forced them into a diversion to Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.

There they too snubbed waiting fans and drove off in limos.

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They snubbed waiting fans? That really does say it all. Pathetic.

[IRiSHMaFIA]

That just plain pisses me off that does. How dare these arrogant pricks snub the people that spend so much to see them and support them so bloody much? Especially children!

That article had me so damn angry and I'm really disgusted with Wayne Rooney as well with this childish attitude he has. All my Manchester United shirts have his name and number on them, and I'm thinking of tossing them in the bin after this :grr: :grr: :grr:

[IRiSHMaFIA]

I was at an appointment during the Italy vs Germany match. Once I was finished, I had to go to pick something up from the shops and went into one that had a bigscreen tv. All the employees were standing infront the tv watching the match and I thought I might as well catch a bit too. I was soooooooo wanting Germany to score and knock Italy out and when I saw Italy score and heard the whole place scream with cheers of glory I totally got upset lol It put me in a rancid mood and I wanted to tell everyone there to shut the F up and stop cheering. What a horrible sport I am ey?

I ended up getting in the car for the ride home and had such a rotten attitude about it that I got in an argument with my pal. She's not into footie at all and said 'why are you so upset? You're not the one out there kicking the ball so what's it to you? You're not German so why be so bothered?".......those were the wrong words to say to me. I verbally ripped her apart and we didn't talk for the rest of the ride home. I got out of her car and slammed the door as hard as I could and told her not to bother coming in because I wasn't in the mood for company.

I stormed off in the mother of all snits and that was that. Some people just don't know when to shut up! :grr:

[maycm]

Re the article....

It all goes to show that almost everyone forgets 'where they came from' when they achieve stardom or celebrity of some sort.

All these players were once kids supporting these teams and enjoyed the thrill of meeting or seeing a player close up once in while. They would do well to remember that.

Of course inveitably the ones that do spend the time to meet the fans and sign a few autographs rarely get acknowledged for doing so, so maybe someone somewhere will change that and give the guys that earn millions and still make themselves available to the fans credit for doing so.

The only problem of course is that a few nutcases take advantage or see it as an opportunity to abuse them and that's when the player turns around and says why am I doing this?

There are far too many spoilt c*nts however who believe thier own publicity (eg Rooney) and forget there are more important things in life.

Re: Germany / Italy

Sorry Irish, but I took great pleasure in seeing the Germans get knocked out of the competition. I could not help but howl with laughter looking at the dejected, crying fans.

Brought a little tear to my own eye, it did. BWAAAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Now we just need to see the French lose. Wouldn't that be something!

[eefanincan]

Well, I'm gutted about Germany as I was rooting for them. Now I don't really like anyone in the finals but suppose I wil watch it for the "sport"..... hard to get into it though when you can't even root for any team.

[Skylace]

[faceless]

I thought the game last night was brilliant - I didn't really care either way who won, and for that reason I really enjoyed it. I was just glad it didn't go to penalties as that would have ruined a great memory of a great game.

[IRiSHMaFIA]

[maycm]

BTW Irish - isn't it time you changed your sig? (Tee Hee)

[IRiSHMaFIA]

[maycm]

Ha Ha - that's Hilarious.

I think you have the kiss of death Irish.

Please change your sig to "Good Luck France"

[IRiSHMaFIA]

[janbo1960]

What a Final... collaborators v cowards!!!!! don't mention the war!!!!

[faceless]

I just saw the qualifying group that Scotland are in for the next European Championships and the teams they have to face are France, Portugal and Ukraine!

Looks like another chance for the Tartan Army to stay at home and support "anyone but England!" - haha

[janbo1960]

At least they avoided Estonia!!!!