Rooney to be sent off at any stage at World Cup at 8/1

As the countdown to the World Cup reaches nearly a week until the opening game, Coral offer great odds of 8/1 for England star Wayne Rooney to get sent off at any stage during the finals.

Hotheaded 28-year-old Rooney has five career red cards, including a joint-record of two (along with David Beckham) for The Three Lions that came at incredibly crucial moments.

His first came in the Euro 2006 quarter-final match against Portugal, when he inexplicably stamped on Ricardo Carvalho’s groin – his disciplinary breach lead to England losing on penalties.

Rooney’s other moment of madness in a Three Lions shirt was in the Euro 2012 qualifying fixture with Montenegro, with an off-the-ball challenge on Miodrag Dzudovic, which lead to him being banned for the opening two group games at the finals.

The World Cup is the biggest stage of all in footballing terms, and can Rooney finally control his temper and go a tournament where his talents are the main focus? With England’s tough group, unlikely.

Roy Hodgson’s men face a challenging pool containing group favourites Italy, South American giants Uruguay and minnows Costa Rica. With the heat and tough fixtures, will Rooney be able to keep his cool and avoid getting frustrated? Again, unlikely.

It seems that England players have a habit of seeing red in big tournament. Beckham was given an early bath in the 1998 World Cup following his infamous kick on Diego Simeone – where the Three Lions went on to lose in penalties again. While Ray Wilkins took the long walk in a goalless draw group match with Morocco at the finals in 1986.

Former Tottenham midfielder Alan Mullery has the accolade of being the first England player to be sent off in an official match, doing so at the 1968 European Championship semi-finals against Yugoslavia after receiving two yellow cards.

Check back tomorrow for another Coral special with just a week to go until the World Cup.