Jun. 2, 2006 - Freddie cool on England hopes

Swedish star Fredrik Ljungberg believes England's World Cup hopes will be hit hard if Wayne Rooney is ruled out of the competition.

Rooney is set for a crucial scan at the start of next week and the results will give an indication as to whether he will be able to take part in Germany this summer.

The striker is still confident of being given the green light, but Manchester United are remaining cautious and Ljungberg feels his absence would hit England hard.

With doubts also persisting over Michael Owen's fitness, Ljungberg is looking for Sweden to take advantage in Group B.

"They have great players but any team would struggle without their best players," the Arsenal man told the Daily Mirror.

"We have a great record against England and will give them a hard game - but it will be even harder after the Group stages.

"They have great midfielders but the winners will have to have great strikers too and they would miss Rooney and Owen."

Ljungberg too is feeling his way back to fitness and he will test his foot injury during Sweden's friendly with Chile on Friday.

The midfielder struggled with the foot complaint towards the end of last season, but is confident of being fit for the group opener with Trinidad & Tobago and will start Friday's friendly.