Rossi is starting along side Rooney, Rio and Van Der Saar are also playing. Rooney is wearing the armband
Don't be too surprised... I wouldn't be surprised if that turned into a reality at some point in time. The guy's about as unpredictable as they come, but in some ways who knows... it might be the kick/responsibility he needs.
Huh? The captains "armband" is an armband worn by the player who is the captain of the team. Roy Keane and Patrick Viera both wore it for their clubs at a point when many saw them as wild players (think Rooney) and both handled the responsibilities that came with the armband fairly well.
Was Viera or Keane as troubled or as much of a prima dona as Rooney? Maybe, as their careers were starting up before I followed international soccer with that close of an eye, but it'd be hard to compare them to "if 'scouser counts I can speak half of one language," "I like to stomp on people's nuts" Rooney.
Man Utd won the game 2-1. Rossi came close on several occasions but failed to get on the scoresheet. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=351155
Keane was at least as bad as Rooney maybe more so. Viera wasn't as much of a prima donna but defintely troubled. If you think Rooney was bad for "stomping" on that guy's groin you shuold check out Keane after destroying Alfe Inge Haaland's leg in a game. Keane was suspended by the FA after he said in his autobiography that the foul on Halland was deliberate. Supposedly after the tackle Keane said "Take that you c**t". He ws definitely more troubled than Rooney could ever be. Viera often had the "red mist" descend on him but he didn't seem to be much of a prima donna. Both players were integral in the team's winning EPL Titles and for ManU the Champions League in 99. Keane of course missed the final due to yellow cards, but he literally put ManU on his back and pretty much single-handedly won the second leg against Juventus. I think both players calmed down somewhat after getting the captain's armband, but not enough to take that edge off which was vital to the way they played. Hopefully the same can happen with Rooney.
You could tell from the video that the tackle was deliberate. Damn. Worst tackle ever. On Rooney: His problem IMO is not so much being "troubled" and his temper as it is the immense amount of pressure put on him by everyone. Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira didn't have as much pressure on them.
Of course, Keane and Vieira were playing the enforcer roles for their teams, so they were expected to be physical. Rooney's a goal scorer.
doh! for some reason i could have sworn it was some type of armband that would calm down the player. Never crossed my mind to think of him playing captain >< my bad