Admit it. When you heard that Wayne Rooney injured his ankle in Manchester United's Champions League match with Bayern yesterday, you let yourself dream. You let yourself dream that the striker, who is the most dangerous man in the world (apologies to Lionel Messi) in front of net at the moment, might miss the World Cup.


Consider your dreams (and mine) dashed.


Rooney will miss some time due to the problem ankle, but it won't be enough to affect his World Cup participation. Two to four weeks is the prognosis, and if I were a betting man, I might put a little on his return coming closer to two rather than four. Manchester United's title hopes take a major hit without Rooney, and there's little reason to doubt his heart or commitment. Ferguson won't be able to keep him out of the lineup as soon as the swelling subsides.


It's possible the Rooney's injury is actually a boon for England's chances; the time he will miss now, provided he returns completely healthy, is a bit of a rest for a player expending himself week in and week out in multiple competitions for United. Still, any injury at all to their most important player is trouble for England, especially if Rooney rushes back and risks re-injuring himself closer to the tournament in South Africa.


How much better would the American chances of a victory be on June 12th if England was without Rooney? Better, of course, though it doesn't look like we'll get to find out.


Maybe you weren't hoping for Rooney to be out longer. Maybe your of the mind that the US needs to take on England on their best, because if they are able to pull off the upset, it will mean that much more. In that case, you can be happy today.


For the rest of us, it's a dream unfulfilled. Damn.