MASTERCLASS: ROONEY VS CAMPBELL: BREAKING DOWN THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PENALTY IN FOOTBALL HISTORY
Wayne Rooney discusses the 2004 Arsenal vs Man Utd "Battle of the Buffet." Read about Sol Campbell’s grudge and the January 25 clash.
Wayne Rooney says Sol Campbell wouldn't speak to him for half a year after Manchester United beat Arsenal at Old Trafford in 2004, ending their 49-game unbeaten streak. Rooney won a penalty in that game after going down under a challenge from Campbell, who thought Rooney dived.
Rooney said that Campbell held a grudge after that controversial game in 2004. It was Rooney's first time playing in the big rivalry, as Arsenal tried to hit 50 games without a loss. But Rooney won a penalty from Campbell and then scored himself. Campbell apparently felt wronged by the call and wasn't quick to forgive.
Rooney says Campbell wouldn't talk to him at international team camps for six months after the game. On his podcast, he remembered, “It was a big game for Arsenal. If they had won, it would have been their 50th game unbeaten. We beat them 2-0, and Campbell didn’t speak to me for over six months. When we met up for international duty, Sol wouldn’t speak to me.
“Sometimes, I was with Sol, and I’d say, ‘Come on, man, we're playing for England here.’ But he wouldn’t talk to me because he felt I dived. He left his leg out, and I think there was a little contact.”
Rooney also talked about some of the other famous clashes between the two teams: “I used to love playing against Arsenal. I remember my first game at Highbury for United was with Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in the tunnel, and you could feel the tension.
“Then there was the time Cesc Fabregas threw pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson, and there were fights in the tunnel that everyone got into. The Martin Keown incident was a year before I got there, but the next year we beat them 2-0.”
After the game, someone threw a pizza in the tunnel, hitting Ferguson. Fabregas later admitted he was the one who threw it, as Rooney noted.
Ashley Cole wrote about the incident in his book: This slice of pizza came flying over my head and hit Fergie straight in the face. It echoed down the tunnel, and everything stopped—the fighting, the yelling, everything. All eyes turned, and all mouths gaped to see this pizza slip off that famous face and roll down his suit. I thought Ferguson was going to explode, but then he stormed off into the dressing room, cursing, brushing the crumbs off his collar. We all went back into the dressing room and fell about laughing. All I can say is that the culprit wasn't English or French.
Arsenal and United had a big rivalry in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but both teams have had ups and downs since then. Arsenal hasn't won the Premier League since 2004, and United hasn't been champions since the 2012-13 season. Rooney always played well in big games and had a great record against Arsenal, scoring 15 goals in 35 games and winning 17 of those games with both United and Everton.
What's next?
United will play Arsenal next on January 25. Arsenal is currently ahead of United by 15 points, and fans in north London are hoping they'll finally win the title this year.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
_1775922735.webp)
Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
BRAD FRIEDEL LABELS WESTON MCKENNIE THE "MOST TALENTED" USMNT PLAYER OVER PULISIC
Brad Friedel sparks debate by naming Weston McKennie as more talented than Christian Pulisic for the USMNT in 2026.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Christian Pulisic is the top American player right now. In his eyes, Weston McKennie is the most talented option Mauricio Pochettino's got, even though Pulisic usually gets all the attention as “Captain America.”
Pulisic does have his fans, but he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2024 and was pretty quiet during the last international break. The US had a rough time, losing 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal. Those friendlies were supposed to get the team ready for big opponents at the 2026 World Cup, but honestly, they just brought up even more doubts. McKennie was one of the few players who actually looked up for it, and Friedel is absolutely convinced he’s the best talent the US has right now.
The team was missing some key names, too. Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams were all out. Richards made it back for the Portugal game, but Adams’ absence in midfield was impossible to ignore. Friedel says people are making too much of these recent defeats. He thinks you have to judge the team on how they do in big tournaments, especially this summer. Still, he admits Adams is the one who keeps everyone connected, and when he’s out there, it makes McKennie better, which ends up making life easier for Pulisic.
Pochettino has a headache picking his squad for the World Cup. He’s still not set on his goalkeeper, his defence, his midfield, or even the attack. According to Friedel, no matter who fills those spots, the USMNT’s hopes really come down to what McKennie and Adams bring to the table.
Talking to Express Sport via Oddspedia, Friedel said, “The U.S. has always needed all our best guys. We’ve never been the kind of team that can go 30 deep and not lose quality except in 2002. That was the only year when anyone could’ve started, and we wouldn’t have missed a beat. Tyler is the glue for the team. He doesn’t care if you’re seven feet tall; if you’re not pulling your weight, he’ll call you out. He’s just that type of player.”
Friedel went on, “I coached a lot of these guys when I ran the under-19s. Weston McKennie is, for me, the most talented footballer we have. He can do so many things, but he needs to be fit and focused. With Juventus this season, he’s looked sharp, and he’s carrying that form into the World Cup. If he’s got Tyler alongside him, no matter where Weston ends up playing, Tyler keeps him disciplined. You always get the best version of McKennie when Adams is on the field. If those two are fit and playing well, they open up the space that lets Christian do what he does best.”
Pochettino is staring down a huge challenge to get this team ready for the World Cup. He knows they’re nowhere near their peak, but he keeps insisting they’re not far off either. If Adams can stay healthy, something that’s been tough for him lately, that would take a lot of pressure off the coach. Without him, it shows. With him, everything just seems to fall into place.
