Wayne Rooney's injury Saturday may have brought much grief to England fans who consider him to be a little scouse God, but they don't have as much reason for their pessimism as they think.
What everyone seems not to notice is that Rooney and Michael Owen have never made a great strike partnership. They are both amazing soccer players, so of course they can create goals. But the sum of their parts does not make a great whole. Both strikers play a similar game. Michael Owen has great pace, great finishing, a great eye for making runs, and is 5'8" tall. Wayne Rooney has fairly good pace, a great shot, the ability to drop back and create plays, and is 5'10". Together they force England into a one-dimensional straight through the middle fast-paced team that does not allow Steven Gerrard nor Frank Lampard to contribute as much to the game as would be necessary for England to excel.
If Rooney is out, England will be able to play Owen with Peter Crouch or Darren Bent - two strikers with the aerial ability to allow England to fully utilize the wings and the physical presence to hold up the ball and bring Lampard and Gerrard into the mix - there is a reason why Morinho plays Drogba up front, and it's not necessarily to score goals. Neither Owen nor Rooney plays with another short, like-minded striker for their clubs, and for good reason. It's only because England is obsessed with playing the same group of superstars that it happens. There is a reason why England always disappoints, and it's because Sven-Goran refuses to put together a winning system and instead plays the biggest names he can.
Hopefully now that Rooney is hurt Owen will be able to play with a stiker that allows him to play his proper game and is able to better include England's superb scoring midfield.