Wayne Rooney was sent off in England’s 2 all draw away to Montenegro last week. Rooney’s ban will come at the start of Euro 2012 as the game against Montenegro was England’s last qualifier. Since the game, Rooney has been told by England boss Fabio Capello that he will not start for England again until he has served his ban.
Wayne Rooney is dismissed by German referee Wolfgang Stark
I ask the question, is this a good thing for England? I’m sure that everyone can agree that what Rooney did was wrong and there is no way to defend the red card that he received. To give Rooney the excuse that ‘family troubles’ were the reason for his red card is ridiculous too. Once a player crosses the white line onto the pitch they are fully focused on the game and anything going on off the pitch goes out of their heads. Many believe that England would have gone on to win the game if Rooney had stayed on the pitch and that he let the country down. Fabio Capello is the manager of the English national side and he has to show authority over his highly paid England players that he has at his disposal. If Capello does nothing to punish Wayne Rooney then he may be seen to be a weak manager.
Wayne Rooney talks tactics with Fabio Capello
This being said, Wayne Rooney is one the best chances that England have of doing anything in Euro 2012. At the moment Rooney looks set to miss just the 1st game of the Euro’s, which means England could potentially have another 5 very important games after that which Rooney could play a key part in.
Rooney made his debut for England in 2003 as an 18 year old and has been an ever present member of the squad since. He has scored 28 goals in 73 appearances.
For Manchester United this season Rooney is in sensational form. He has been the main man for United in their unbeaten start to the Premier League season. England should want all the players in form involved at all times with the squad even if they are missing one game at the start of a tournament. If Rooney is in Capello’s squads before the Euro’s and is just sitting on the bench I think that the focus would be more on Wayne Rooney than it would be the team. The team is more important and the focus should always be on that. A negative focus on Wayne Rooney going into Euro 2012 could have a negative effect on England’s chances of doing anything in the competition.
I feel now that Capello has made it hard for himself by saying that Rooney won’t play before the Euro’s. If he doesn’t play him then it is a waste of one of England’s best talents, and if he does play him then it puts into question the England managers authority as he has already said that he won’t do so.
This was Rooney’s second red card for England. He is only the second ever English player to receive 2 red cards for his country. The other being David Beckham.
Here are a few examples of when Rooney’s temper has got the better of him in his career so far.
2005: Booked and then sarcastically clapped in the face of referee Kim Milton Nielsen and was immediately given his second yellow card in Manchester United’s European game away at Villarreal.
2006: Given a straight red card in England’s World Cup quarter final game against Portugal. He appeared to have stamped on Ricardo Carvalho. England went on to lose the game on penalties.
2009: The forward was sent off for two bookable offences during Manchester United’s shock 2-0 defeat away to Fulham. He left the pitch fuming, even going on to abuse the corner flag.
What are your views? Should England throw the book at Wayne Rooney or should Rooney be involved in every England game that he is available for?
2uptop 
He has let his country … alot. I remember after an England game when he had a go at the supporters down the television cameras. But at the end of the day, no matter how hot headed he can be or if he does crazy things in the heat of the moment. He is by far England’s best player and certainly their best forward. Bent, Carrol, Crouch, Defoe or Welbeck….None of them are even is the same class. Rooney should play all the friendlies and England should get a system and team ready for the euros. Then just play someone else in the opening game. Lets just hope are first game isn’t too tough. Great blog again
I think Capello is sacrificing good preperation for the Euros by leaving Rooney out of the friendlies games to try and punish him. He needs to think about the Euros and not worry about people thinking he’s weak if he doesnt punish him.
I think there is a very fine line between showing ample discipline and showing that you are a strong manager and trying to make an example of Wayne Rooney, I think that capello would be an idiot to let Rooney not play for England until the euro’s, I also think that there are other ways that capello can let Wayne know that what he did was wrong without letting him not play.
Him coming out in the press and saying it isn’t the right thing to do I don’t think. It’s like Mancini saying Tevez won’t play again. If both managers kept quiet and do what they have to do they can do what want with the players without looking stupid. Now both managers are being watched intensely to see what they do next.