Out on his Owen

A gutted-looking Michael Owen hobbles off into the sunset on the back of the Times after his hideous knee-crocking seconds into the Sweden clash.

So we see the paper' getting just the sort of exclusive from its World Cup columnist it didn't want; the little striker gassing about his premature swansong from Germany 2006.

Looks like he'll be spending the rest of the tournament foot up in front of the plasma, back in that village in north Wales he almost owns.

"There's no awful pain but you feel the crunch," winces Mickey, as England fans share his pain.

He says he hated the idea of lying on the ground injured - it's not the Owen way.

But this is a serious injury, and the poor wee fella had no choice.

Owen reckons his ruptured cruciate ligament - even the words themselves have a painful quality - will keep him on the sidelines for six months.

And he told Sven-Goran Eriksson he still wants that winner's medal round his neck and will be back in Germany to watch England win the final.

Must be the painkillers talking.

The Independent meanwhile asks "Is it the end for England's golden boy?"

As an international footballing force, that's sadly looking increasingly likely.