Rooney broke a bone in his right foot at Chelsea on Saturday and the gifted 20-year-old's club Manchester United said he would be out for six weeks.

His strike partner Owen, who also broke a bone in his right foot in December, said he felt uncomfortable after making a 30-minute comeback for Newcastle United on Saturday.

The general consensus among pundits speaking to the British media on Sunday was that without Rooney, England's chances of World Cup victory were greatly reduced.

Without both players they were slimmer still.

"It's depressingly sad. Without Rooney, I think we have gone from possible World Cup winners to outsiders," former England manager Bobby Robson told BBC radio.

"We can't replace Rooney, I don't think there's another player like him in the country... there's hardly another player like him in Europe," added Robson, who steered England to the 1990 World Cup semifinals in Italy.

"The people who win World Cups are individuals, your top individuals."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard also added his voice to the fray.

"It would be a disaster for England if we had to go to the World Cup finals without Wayne. He is idolised around the country and is our main man."

"I think it is impossible to have a successful World Cup without Wayne."

Trophy ends tour
Reuters, Riyadh

The World Cup trophy ended its first global tour on Saturday with a public display in a Saudi Arabian shopping mall ahead of this year's finals in Germany. "The reception of the trophy in each country was outstanding. We had very emotional people, people who were crying," said Alex Koch, an official with world governing body FIFA who toured 28 countries with the gold trophy.

"The most impressive reaction we got was from an 80-year-old man in Ecuador, in Quito, who said it was the highlight of his life, to see the trophy before dying," Koch told Reuters. In Saudi Arabia, the reception was more conservative as hundreds of young men in white robes and red headscarves queued to have their picture taken beside the coveted Cup, which began its world tour in Ghana in January.

"It was a really weird feeling to actually see the World Cup, you feel a bit of trepidation," said Khaled al-Antari after posing beside the trophy, surrounded by heavy security.

Xavi returns to action
Reuters, madrid

Barcelona midfielder Xavi returned to action nearly five months after suffering a serious knee injury when he came on as a second-half substitute during their 1-0 Primera Liga win at home to Cadiz on Saturday.

The Spanish international got a standing ovation when he stepped on to the Nou Camp pitch to replace Portugal midfielder Deco with 10 minutes left and will now be available for the Champions League final and his country's World Cup squad.

"It was an unforgettable night," the midfielder told reporters. "I've never received a reception like that before and it was great to feel useful again for the team and as a footballer."

The 26-year-old was in outstanding form for Barca at the start of the season but tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee in a training session at the beginning of December.

It was initially thought the injury might sideline him for the rest of the season but he has made a rapid recovery.