England Team Thread

[nakamura]

Apparently on UEFA.com it said that no cards from qualifying would be carried over. It didn't specify what colour cards mind.
UEFA have called it an assault on the player.

Right. Course it was, it was just a silly kick out.

[toythatkills]

Can you imagine them banning Messi for three games? Nope, neither can I. Highest profile player in the England team, they done it because frankly they seem to hate us.

UEFA'd have a job banning Messi for international competition.

[Malavon]

3 games is excessive, and can't imagine what would justify that. The FA absolutely should appeal this - the risk of his ban being extended is worthwhile given he's useless in the championship with a 3 game ban (though the fact that you can be punished for appealing is absurd in itself).

If there isn't a penalty for an unsuccessful appeal then every decision would be appealed, which makes the entire process pointless.

If the 3 match ban is upheld he should be left at home - in which case, he might as well appeal it as he has nothing to lose.

[Ginger Tosser]

To be fair, he's usually injured for the first 3 games of a tournament anyway.

[Adrock]

No chance. The banned him for 3 because it is England.

That is your honest opinion? The player's nationality has nothing to do with it. Its his disciplinary record more than anything that stands out as to why he will miss three games. He now has to be discounted as an option for Capello. It'll destroy the confidence of any striker because they know regardless of how they perform Rooney will be back in their place once his ban has finished.

I hope Daniel Sturridge can get a decent shot at it whilst Rooney is away because he is beginning to look like the best striker England have at the moment.

[EJG1980]

Ah ha, but when Andrei Arshavin was banned for a similar kick in the final Euro 2008 qualifier, he was only banned for two games!!!!! Conspiracy!!!! They're all against us!!!! And possibly the Russians... but not as much as us!!!!

[Adrock]

Was he sent off on two more ocassions in the past during internationals? Not to mention a chequered disciplinary record in the domestic game?

Down with UEFA!!!! It must be those bloody French wanting to taint our national game and make us even more crap!

[EJG1980]

It wouldn't matter if he'd got away with it, been banned for three matches, or twenty, there'd still be a conspiracy against the English, we'd just find some different proof

I wouldn't mind betting that the Italians, Germans, French, Polish, Spanish and just about every European nation think that UEFA give them a hard deal and are out to get them, and all of them will have various incidents that "prove it". Although the hard done by, everyone hates us mentality is pretty strong over here, it might actually be something we're the best at!

[Adrock]

Its because we're little islanders, keep those bloody foreigners from our hallowed soil!

[toythatkills]

"Bloody Rooney, comin' over 'ere, sleepin' with our grandmothers."

[Flabio]

England have avoided the toughest oppostion in the Euro draw, but have ended up having to play their games 700 miles or so away from their base camp. Wonder if they'll reconsider the location?

Full draw:

Group A: Poland, Russia, Czech Republic and Greece.
Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Germany.
Group C: Spain, Republic of Irerland, Croatia and Italy.
Group D: England, Ukraine, Sweden and France.

[sj33]

Surprisingly, Rooney's ban has been reduced.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16064924.stm

[Baseley09]

Yesss, now we can win it!

[nakamura]

Surprised but well done UEFA.

We are still **** though.

[sj33]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16846990

Wish these people would keep their oar out. Regardless of the circumstances, the last thing the England team needs before the European Championship is irrelevent people rattling the cage. Leave this decision to Capello.