England World Cup Betting Odds: Wayne Rooney's back for England

YES, he will. No, he won't. Who are we to believe? Well, betting odds, perhaps? Today, Wayne Rooney's chances of playing at the World Cup have risen to about 71 per cent - which must be music to the ears of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. England's injured striker Wayne Rooney kicked a ball at the side's training ground yesterday, sparking a betting spree on his fitness for the World Cup.

Reporters spotted the Manchester United forward, who broke his toe against Chelsea at the end of April, running and kicking the ball on a different part of the ground from the rest of his England teammates. United have lent England the ground for pre-Cup practice.

Rooney is scheduled to have a scan on his foot on Wednesday, three days before England open their World Cup campaign against Paraguay, to see whether he has a chance of playing any part of the tournament in Germany.

Meanwhile, the feelgood factor engendered by Rooney's return to fitness has led to a patriotic plunge on England winning the tournament. The largest bet ever placed on England to win the World Cup - £50,000 from a client in a central London betting shop - plus many others, has made them 6/1 second favourites with William Hill who make Brazil 9/4 favourites.

"News that Wayne Rooney is running and kicking a ball in training has sparked a punting plunge on him to play a part in the World Cup," bookmaker William Hill said in a news release yesterday, adding odds about him playing had been cut from 6/4 to 8/11.

"Our clients are following up stories that Wayne is already kicking a ball in training and that he told Prince William he expects to be fit to play," William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe was quoted as saying.

for more of England World Cup Preview and Predictions, go to Sports Betting Index World Cup Page.