The curse of the metatarsal injury has been affecting England’s World Cup hopes for 2 decades. These injuries always seem to happen when players are working hard for their club teams in World Cup years to build on form and ensure their national team selection.
Here’s a rundown of some of them. Let’s hope it doesn’t have an effect this year.
Wayne Rooney #1
Wayne Rooney broke his metatarsal at 18 years old in Euro 2004, coming off during an eventual defeat to Portugal in the Quarter Finals.
Michael Owen #2
Curse of the metatarsal hit home hard with Michael Owen’s career comeback in Germany 2006.
David Beckham #3
Broken metatarsal in left foot in a Champions League game for Manchester United.
Managed to be partially fit for opening games and progressed to knockout stages.
Wayne Rooney #4
2nd broken metatarsal at World Cup 2006 – however he managed to get fit in time and still played.
Gary Neville #5
Broken metatarsals being a theme – while David Beckham made it to the 2002 World Cup, Gary Neville wasn’t so fortunate and had to rule himself out of selection.
