According to Sven Goran Eriksson, Wayne Rooney can be England’s Pele or Maradona in the World Cup finals this summer. Let’s hope so. Despite the presence of England’s other ‘platinum players’ – David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen – Rooney is the diamond who can rough up the world’s best and turn England into winners at last.

Either way, there will be a massive Rooney betting market. William Hill gives Rooney 7/2 to score England’s first goal in the World Cup, 9/1 to score in all three group games, 16/1 to win the Golden Boot, 12/1 to score a hat-trick during the World Cup, 20/1 to be sent off in the first game against Paraguay and 33/1 to score England’s final winning goal in the World Cup Final (including extra time but not penalties).