No chance of England winning World Cup without Wayne Rooney, says legend Alan Shearer

Former skipper Alan Shearer has said that without Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney, who is recovering from an injury, England have little chance of winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 63 internationals for the Three Lions, has been worried in recent weeks as Rooney has struggled with knee and ankle problems.

"If Rooney's there we've got a chance - if he's not we'll struggle. Rooney is a superstar. He's a Messi, a Kaka. Take Rooney out of the England team and they wouldn't be the same," The Sun quoted Shearer, as saying.

"I just don't think they could win it without him. We've got some very good players around him in Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand but every country needs a great player like Rooney to have a chance.

"If everyone's playing well, we get a bit of luck and we've got Rooney then we can go far," Shearer said.

Shearer also wants Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge to go to the World Cup regardless of his differences with his former pal John Terry.

"Bridge has said he's not going, wrongly in my opinion. I think you should put things aside, it's football. It's the manager's job to make sure they get on with it. Bridge should just say he's going," he said.

"No other issue should get in the way of a World Cup. If he has the choice to go and he says no then I think he might regret it in time," Shearer added.