On one side, Uruguayans are expecting their star player Suarez to heal his injury and come back in the team as early as possible, English side is not away of similar problem as they are also missing Wayne Rooney who may or may not impart in the curial second world cup tie with Centenario side. Actually, Rooney is not injured but feels manager could put him out as he almost did in the first match and for that reason there is no reason he should celebrate his selection until he actually plays in the do or die game on Thursday. Though, Manchester United forward helped Daniel Sturridge to score equalizer in the first game with Italy, yet he strongly believes Liverpool’s promising Raheem Sterling could be the first choice for manager Roy Hodgson who takes him as better player than 28-year-old at this moment. Suspecting a place in the team for next match, Rooney said, “Why would I feel my place in the team is guaranteed? I work hard to try and get into that team.
“I have never said my place is guaranteed. I don’t expect to play, but I work hard. I want to play. We have got a lot of good young players, so we will all work hard. We all give the manager different options, different choices, and whoever he picks I am sure we will all respect that.”
If they lose the Thursday game, they would be practically out of the event that is why Rooney wants at least to play in this game and prove his long running worth for the English side. He admits, he needs to earn his place by winning manager’s confidence ahead of Sterling who is the second youngest player to goal for the Liverpool. Even manager Hodgson wants him to be more active around penalty areas which he is missing these days. What 66-year-old soccer pro says about him, is, “We want him in the area more. I thought he set up the goal really well with that clever pass. But we want Wayne in the box, and there’s no question we will get him in the box. We won’t panic (for next stage). It was as positive performance as I have seen from us.”
Looking at the excitement this upcoming game has already created among fans, Thursday seems to be like the final of the 2014 Brazilian event and both Uruguayan and English sides would use best of their caliber to triumph and enter unto the next stage else they would have to sit aside and watch the finals from outside!