If Wayne Rooney's latest injury has got England fans worried, the use of new, lightweight football boots by some of the world's top players could start alarm bells rigning.
Four years after David Beckham's foot injury first brought the words 'metatarsal bone' into common parlance, Rooney is facing the same injury agony as the England captain ahead of the 2002 finals.
The World Cup hopes of England's most deadly striker are now hanging in the balance after he broke a metatarsal in his foot while playing for Manchester United in their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
Rooney, 20, has now joined two other England teammates in a race against time to be fit for the start of the World Cup finals on June 9.
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However it is the nature of Rooney's injury, the latest in a long line, which has raised questions over football boots which, some say, are being designed with fashion more than effectiveness in mind.
"We are becoming more concerned about style now," former England international John Hollins told The Daily Telegraph.
"It is a matter of showing what you have on your feet: green boots, yellow boots, white boots."
Rooney's injury has not only sent shockwaves through the England World Cup squad and its loyal army of fans - it has also forced his new sponsor Nike on the defensive.
The sports giant have reacted strongly to any suggestions that their boot may be to blame for Rooney's injury, stressing that medical staff at United had confirmed there was no link.
Nike said Rooney - who helped to design the Total 90 model, which is made from synthetic materials and features laces on the side rather on the top of the boot - had already worn them for two weeks.
"Any boot needs to be a mixture of protection and performance, however no boot can provide a guarantee against injuries," said a Nike spokesperson.
"Medical staff at Manchester United have confirmed that there is no link between the boots and the injury sustained by Wayne."
Like many similar boots, they are designed to offer more 'feel' with the ball. But as opposed to older football boots which players would use for a season, the newer models are often discarded after a few weeks or games.
A number of injuries to key players - and at crucial times for England in particular - has placed doubts over hi-tech boots' ability to protect players from the rigours of British football.
David Beckham, Gary Neville, Michael Owen and Ledley King have all suffered similar foot injuries.
Newcastle striker Owen is currently fighting to be fit for the finals after injuring the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot, and King is facing a similar dilemma. - Sapa-AFP
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