Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the media frenzy over Wayne Rooney's ankle injury.

Ferguson couldn't believe the hype over Rooney's setback and what it meant for England's World Cup chances.

"The vibe we are getting from the media is that if Rooney isn't playing then England have no chance at the World Cup," said Ferguson. "I am sure Fabio Capello would be worried if didn't have Rooney, but I don't think he's going to cut himself up about it.

"He'd have to get on with it and think of an alternative. You can't into a tournament like the World Cup, which is your biggest chance of great success with England, and think that because you didn't have Wayne Rooney everything is going to fall apart.

"You just can't afford to think that way going into the World Cup. But wasn't surprised about the hysteria that surrounded Wayne's injury.

"The hype started straight away about England and lasted until announced the diagnosis.

"We couldn't say anything until we had the proper results of the scan so you have to be patient. But paranoia swept the country for a while.

"It was unbelievable - but I expected that because he's so important to England. And that's the point I've been making. I think that it's a problem more for England than us if Wayne isn't available.

"We have a strong squad with plenty of options - we are well capable of doing without Wayne. Don't get me wrong, we don't want to be without him but we are capable of getting on with it if necessary.

"But there is a shortage of really top strikers in England and that's why the focus is always so much on Wayne."