If you fancy a flutter on the upcoming World Cup, then why not stick a tenner on the identity of the first England player to receive a red card? On yesterday evening's showing, it would appear to be easy money.
Wayne Rooney's 'foul-mouthed tirade' at referee Jeff Selogilwe has sent everyone into a panic amid fears he will receive his marching orders if he uses the same language during the World Cup.
And with indications that the US team's mission will be to wind up the Manchester United striker in the hope he will snap during Saturday's opening game in South Africa, those fears seem to be justified.
Rooney shouted "f*** you" at Selogilwe during England's unconvincing 3-0 win over local minnows Platinum Stars, prompting a yellow card and a later warning from the official that if his behaviour does not change in time for the big kick-off, he faces big trouble when it matters.
"He must learn to control his temper," said Selogilwe, a view which can be taken to encompass not just his verbal outbursts, but also the frequent rushes of blood that usually result in a prone opposition player.
Of course Rooney has 'previous', his dismissal against Portugal in the quarter-finals in 2006 for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho's balls still rating as the most high profile - and damaging - of his indiscretions.
That was four years ago, and Rooney may have matured in some ways since then - fatherhood has a way of forcing men to grow up - but in many others he remains the same volatile character.
For recent proof of what he's capable of, cast your minds back no further than the World Cup warm-up against Japan just over a week ago, when he flung himself into a frustrated and needless challenge on Japan's Tulio. In any other game he would have been dismissed. (Tulio, incidentally, levelled the score with a similarly violent act, only days later and on the unfortunate and entirely innocent Didier Drogba.)
The problem with Rooney is that, rather fittingly in this country of wild animals, he cannot be tamed.
Indeed, if ED were forced to compare Rooney with any one of South Africa's beasts, it would go for the rhinoceros, an animal characterised by its large size, thick skin and deceptive speed. Rhinos are also killed for their horn, but ED would prefer to end the lame comparisons there.
Anyway, the point is that to expect Rooney to control his more feral instincts would be to negate his effectiveness.
Raw talent aside, Rooney's game is all about giving 110 per cent, regardless of the situation or the opposition. He wants to win every time he plays and that means that when things do not go his way, he's liable to the odd outburst or frustrated lunge.
That's who he is. Sometimes it's not pretty, but he cannot change. And neither should he be expected to do so. If he did, England's best player in South Africa would not be wearing the number 10 shirt.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "He insulted me. He is a good player when you see him on the TV, but when you see him on the pitch, he just keeps on insulting the referees. To me it looks like Rooney insults people and fouls other players. If he insults a referee like me then he will use that vulgar language to other referees as well. He must learn to control his temper. He could get sent off in the World Cup, especially if he uses this kind of language. I was very disappointed in Rooney because he is my favourite player. Actually he is still my favourite player. He apologised to me and gave me the shirt he was wearing." Selogilwe's warning for Rooney in full.
FOREIGN VIEW: Those randy foreigners, they like their sex, don't they? Or more to the point, they're allowed to enjoy their sex.
At least that was the secret of Brazil's success in 1994, according to former Selecao defender Branco, who claimed his side won the trophy in the US on a diet of sex - and drinking.
"What harm is there in it? My son Stefano was conceived during the 1994 World Cup when I spent a day off in San Francisco with my wife," he said.
"Sex is good for you. It relieves tension. We hadn't won the World Cup for 24 years, so it didn't do us any harm. Sex at the camp should only be ruled out with a team-mate's wife. What you can't do is stuff your face until four in the morning or stay in a brothel.
"We were very professional when we won the World Cup in '94. We went there to win it. Drinking was allowed and we'd have three or four drinks to relax. What's wrong with that?"
COMING UP: The World Cup warm-ups continue with Portugal v Mozambique (15:30) and Spain v Poland (21:00); we'll have live text commentary on both games. Today's Countdown focuses on Netherlands, while we should have the latest World Cup Power Rankings and Behind Enemy Lines before lunchtime.
Throughout the day you can stay abreast of the all the latest World Cup goings-on with our live news ticker.
And of course, there's Wimbledon warm-ups at the Aegon Championship - Queen's Club: every day 12.15pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) & on the Eurosport Player.
