World Cup 2010 news: Wayne Rooney 'as influential as Raul and Baresi'
06/05/2010
Wayne Rooney is expected by coach Fabio Capello to play a vital role for the England team during the World Cup 2010.
In a Press Association article on the Fifa website, the Italian manager suggested he has only witnessed two other footballers capable of having as big an impact on a side's performance as the Manchester United star.
"He is very important because when the team is falling asleep, he is the one who can give them a boost," Capello remarked. "Rooney reminds me of [Franco] Baresi and Raul."
The latter player has never managed to win any major international honours with his native Spain, for whom he is the all-time top goalscorer.
Baresi on the other hand was in the squad for Italy's World Cup victory in 1982 and was also involved when his country went on to finish as runners-up to Brazil in the 1994 edition of the tournament.
Posted by Oliver Jakes