Hot head Wayne Rooney

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“Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.” These were the words made famous by that legendary Brazilian No.10, Edison Arantes do Nascimento a.k.a Pele.

Little did he know that the man they call ‘The White Pele’ would cling to those words the way his now famous hairdo clings to his head.

Enthusiasm defines everything about Wayne Rooney on and off the field. He is Manchester United’s favourite son and his records for the club are proof that he is irreplaceable for the Old Trafford outfit. However, it is this over enthusiasm at times that has landed him in trouble over and over again, most recently ensuring he misses the start of Euro 2012.

But is his status as the saviour of English football warranted? If Moses comes down a mountain, carrying the ‘Ten Formations’ (Thou shalt not dive) and starts coaching the Three Lions, they might just make the semis. That’s also because Moses knows how to part a Red Sea, he can definitely split 11 footballers in half. But that is a saviour of a kind that England isn’t going to find.

‘Wazza’ set the world on fire during Euro 2004 and he has been carrying the burden of his country’s footballing hopes on his not-so-slight frame since. The Evertonian whiz-kid has had quite a roller-coaster of a career where his success at club level is a stark contrast from his failings for the England team.

Bar the F.A. Cup, he has won it all with Manchester United. The record breaking 19th title was closest to his heart. (I mean he shaved the number on his chest hair!)

During the same time, he has been a no-show during the Euro 2008 qualifiers and World Cup ’10, suffered 2 nearly year-long goal droughts and has yet to find the net at a World Cup. Yet he has 10 more goals than Lionel Messi in as many more games for his national team and Messi is the reigning World Footballer of the Year.

But Messi is also about as aggressive as a Labrador pup while Wayne Rooney is… named Shrek after an Ogre, let’s just put it at that. It is an apt name though. England are searching for a fairytale.

But will her countrymen grab their torches and pitch-forks next summer or will they crown their ‘messiah’ the King, time will tell. But until then, Joga Bonito!