X is for X-rays

X-rays revealed the worst for David Beckham and Wayne Rooney - that's why X is for X-rays.

The England stars were the subject of a media frenzy and worry for supporters before the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

In April 2002, Beckham was injured in a Champions League clash for Manchester United following a crunching challenge from Aldo Duscher.

He was carried off on a stretcher in agony, shaking his head in disbelief, as was Sven-Goran Eriksson who faced the prospect of a World Cup without his captain and talisman.

Beckham had broken the second metatarsal in his left foot, an injury that would rule him out for six weeks.

It left Becks in a frantic race to be fit for the finals in Japan and South Korea.

The nation held its collective breath as all manner of bizarre methods were employed in a bid to have Beckham ready.

Mystic Uri Geller appeared on TV and urged viewers to touch the screen - an image of Beckham's X-Ray - in an attempt to speed up the healing process. Beckham also spent time in oxygen tents to aid his recovery.

The injury healed - although former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville was not so fortunate and missed the tournament with the same injury - sufficiently for Beckham to play and, in England's second match against Argentina, his penalty was enough to win the game.

In April 2006, it seemed history was repeating itself when striker Rooney broke his fourth metatarsal against Chelsea in the penultimate match of the Premiership season - six weeks before the World Cup opener with Paraguay in Germany.

Rooney was eventually declared fit to play in the finals. He made a brief substitute appearance in the second match against Trinidad and Tobago and started all England's remaining games before his tournament ended prematurely when he saw red against Portugal.