Eriksson: Rooney will learn

Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted that Wayne Rooney would learn his lesson after storming off the pitch in Madrid when he was substituted before half-time to prevent him being sent off.

Rooney, 19, allowed his hot-blooded temperament to boil over during last night’s friendly against Spain, casting a cloud over his otherwise seemingly inexorable progress.

Having already been booked for an idiotic push on keeper Iker Casillas, he fouled Carlos Marchena as well, prompting Eriksson to act decisively, with three minutes left before the interval.

Rooney, who had been fortunate not to be booked earlier for another foul on Joaquin, was replaced by Alan Smith.

However, he let himself down in flinging his black armband, being worn in tribute to former England captain Emlyn Hughes, whose funeral had taken place earlier that day, to the floor.

Eriksson declared: “I took him off because I suspected that, even with a light tackle, the referee would have sent him off.”