Wayne Rooney will miss all three of England’s group games at Euro 2012 after he was handed the maximum punishment for his deliberate foul on Miodrag Dzudovic in the final qualifying game against Montenegro.
There were rumours of an appeal from the FA but the danger of an additional punishment for a frivolous appeal could make matters even worse for Rooney with a further extension of the ban rather than a reduction.
It leaves England manager Fabio Capello pondering his options for a team without the influence of arguably England’s best player.
If Rooney’s Manchester United team mate Danny Welbeck continues his fine first team form this season he could find himself not only with a place in the squad but a major role in England’s bid to qualify from the group stage.