Rooney’s red spoils party

Montenegro 2 England 2

First-half goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent were enough to claim a draw against a Montenegro side who were rampant in the second half following Elsad Zverotic’s deflected effort in stoppage time before the break, and they levelled at the end through Andrija Delibasic to grab a play-off berth.

But the journey home for England was spoiled by Rooney’s red.

It came 17 minutes from the end, for a completely needless challenge on Miodrag Dzudovic, that led to the 25-year-old becoming only the second England player — after David Beckham – to be sent off twice.

The dismissal brings an automatic one-match ban for England’s next competitive game, their first of the finals, and the potential for a second should UEFA deem it sufficient punishment.

England manager Fabio Capello had no complaints over the red card. “It surprised me, just in front of me he kicked the opponent.

“I think the red card is okay, when he lost the ball he kicked the opponent and for the next game he is suspended.

“He is an important player, but sometimes important players don’t play well and can make mistakes. It will be a good lesson for him and also for the team.”

Capello dismissed suggestions that the arrest of Rooney’s father and uncle this week as part of an investigation into an alleged betting scam in Scotland played a part in the striker’s frustration.

“The players are thinking always about what is on the pitch, not what is happening away from here, the private problems,” he said.

“He wants to be the best, when sometimes you miss the passes and miss the control, he is not happy. I think he was frustrated.”

On his side’s overall display, Capello said: “We played really well for the first 35 minutes, in the last 10 minutes of the first half we played too relaxed and after they scored they had more chances to draw the game.

“We are really happy, we played this game to qualify for the Euros. That was our first goal when we started qualification for the Europeans.

“The result worked out for both teams.”

England captain John Terry was glad that Rooney’s red card did not prove costly.

“He had a little bit of a tussle and it’s one of those things,” said Terry. “Fortunately we’re through and it didn’t cost us so we’re happy that we’re through and that goes for everyone.

MONTENEGRO: Mladen Bozovic, Vladimir Bozovic (Delibasic 79), Savic, Djudovic, Zverotic, Beciraj (Damjanovic 64), Pekovic, Vukcevic, Kascelan (Jovanovic 46), Jovetic, Vucinic.

ENGLAND: Hart, Jones, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Walcott (Welbeck 76), Barry, Parker, Young (Downing 60), Bent (Lampard 64), Rooney.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).