No Rooney, No Problem

So it’s happened again. Beckham did it in 98, Rooney did it in 2004 and now Wayne has destroyed England’s chances of lifting a major trophy, again.

Although this time at least he’s given us all a chance to prepare for this disaster having committed his petulant act almost 12 months before a tournament. 

Rooney’s red in Montenegro last Friday has forced UEFA to award the England striker with a three-match ban. Three matches means Rooney will play no part in England’s progress through the group stages of Euro 2012.

Classic Wayne

Rooney isn’t exactly known for being the best-behaved lad on the pitch, either in an England shirt or when playing for his club.

His jibe at fans booing the team after England’s woeful draw with Algeria at World Cup 2010 earned him little love from fans and  press, while his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, disgraced the England number 10 in the eyes of the whole country.

His elbow to the face of Wigan’s James McCarthy last season gave his critics more firepower, while his general temperament on the pitch, and sometimes reckless challenges, have seen England’s golden boy in hot water for much of his career.

This incident in Montenegro is just another one to add to the list, much like a badly behaved kid at school will have his misdemeanors tallied up and stored away on his permanent record.

The Choices We Have Now

Fabio now has to make two very important decisions.

1) Who do you play up front instead of Rooney?

2) Do you  even take Rooney to the tournament?

The answer to question number two is a tough yet simple answer.

You DON’T take Wayne to Poland.

This is a character who has twice now made foolish decisions that have cost England on a big stage.  Although Wayne’s latest misdemeanor didn’t take place in a major tournament, the repercussions will now affect us for the whole of the group stage at one. 

His kick on Miodrag Dzudovic was stupid, childish and a final straw. Wayne must be punished for his actions, and he should sit and watch as England battle their way to their usual heart breaking quarter-final loss without one of their key men.

So Back To Question One

Question one is still a difficult one to answer. The young talent that England have in their squad will make adequate cover for Rooney, but seeing as there’s so much of it, and England have only played two competitive games without Rooney since 2008, Fabio is going to have to go back to the drawing board to find a new attacking system for his side.

Darren Bent partnered Rooney up front last Friday, and the trio of Bent on his own with Ashley Young and Stuart Downing paid off for Villa towards the end of last season.  But Fabio may well be drawn to the young wonder kids of Danny Welback and Daniel Sturridge.  Both have started the season well for United and Chelsea and both have shown that they can perform on the big stage for their clubs.

Young and exciting, the pair of them together could make a devastating partnership as long as Capello gives them the time in friendlies to develop a playing relationship and flourish.

Bent on his own however, offers the safest option and as long as he has the support and service from a quick flowing midfield, England should be able to find a way to escape the group stages in Poland.

The Big Picture

It’s unlikely that England would have made the Final or even Semi-final’s of the tournament with Rooney in their squad.  Spain, Holland and Germany would all make sure of that.

Now he is gone, Capello at least has the excuse to not take him and try to develop something new for his successor to continue in the lead up to 2014.

Leave Rooney, start a fresh, and give the kids a chance to get used to the pressures of being in an England squad at a major tournament.  World Cup 2014 here we come.