SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON last night taunted Sir Alex Ferguson - by insisting he'll be the one who decides when Wayne Rooney plays in the World Cup.
The England and Manchester United bosses were locked in a furious, four-letter exchange on Wednesday as they clashed over whether Rooney should rejoin the squad in Germany.
Eriksson is now contemplating playing the wonderkid in the third group game against Sweden on Tuesday - a move that is against the demands of Fergie and England's medical adviser, Professor Angus Wallace.
United and Scot Wallace insist Rooney should play no part in the group stage.
But Eriksson has ditched his super-cool ' nature by meeting Sir Alex head-on. The England manager said: "The good news is Rooney is injury free.
"Now it's up to us to get him match fit and when we think he is, I am prepared to take in any specialist Manchester United want.
"I am prepared to listen to everyone and discuss it with them but the last say on this story is Rooney's and mine.
"I am doing this in the best interest of Rooney, the England team and 40 million England fans. I'm responsible for it."
If Eriksson does play Rooney against Henrik Larsson and Co, it will spark a furious reaction from United.
The club insisted last night that such a move would fly in the face of the advice from independent medical advisor Wallace. The Professor's conclusions were published in a United statement early yesterday but Eriksson blocked plans to put his name on the document because he was so bitterly opposed to the findings.
Now Eriksson will goad Sir Alex further by having Rooney, who is recovering f rom a broken metatarsal, stripped and on the bench for tomorrow's opener against Paraguay, even though the hitman will not play.
England skipper David Beckham, who spectacularly fell out with Fergie, took a more diplomatic approach yesterday.
However, the Real Madrid superstar left everyone in no doubt who he feels should have the final say.
Beckham said: "Sir Alex is only trying to look after his player and hope his player can be fit for next season.
"But at the end of the day we've got a huge competition to play in and Sven wants him fit and playing for us."
