Manchester United fans wouldn't have woken up on Thursday morning with too many concerns with regards to their beloved football team. They had, after all, spent the previous evening watching a classic Manchester derby, which ebbed and flowed throughout the scintillating 90 minutes. Their team seemed to have secured a date at Wembley when they went 2-0 up in a bitterly contested second half through accurate strikes from Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick but old fan favourite Carlos Tevez's cheeky finish looked to have taken the tie to extra time.
 
Once again, United fans were left chanting the name of their saviour, Wayne Rooney, who has proved pivotal in so many games this season in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Surely a top betting tip for player of the year, Rooney headed the ball past Shay Given in the City goal to ensure that it would be United lining up alongside Aston Villa in the Carling Cup final.
 
So, if United fans were waking up with a headache on Thursday morning, it would probably be excessive champagne to blame. However, fans of other teams with one eye on the summer's World Cup might have had other concerns. United have been so reliant on their star striker this season at times it has looked like he's been carrying the team on his shoulders. He's been pictured during televised games showing the players around him where to play the ball before he makes his run. Without Ronaldo, Rooney has had to spend more time creating space and winning the ball back for himself, rather than relying upon the ball being played to his feet via the Portuguese superstar.
 
There is no way that Rooney can continue to play at this level for the rest of the season; it just won't be physically possible for him. However, with United sitting behind title rivals Chelsea in the league and wanting a successful run in Europe, Sir Alex can't afford to rest his star player. How this will leave Rooney feeling on the plane to South Africa is anyone's guess but Fabio Capello must be hoping that other players step up and provide the young forward with the additional support he so badly needs.

The football betting puts England among the favourites to win the World Cup, but they will need to work hard to justify this standing.