Capello won't tell Rooney to behave

Fabio Capello is confident he will not have a problem with Wayne Rooney’s temperament while he is England manager.

Rooney’s reaction to getting sent off at Fulham last weekend has been a major talking point in the build-up to this evening’s friendly with Slovakia at Wembley.

Memories of Rooney’s dismissal at a key stage of England’s World Cup quarter-final with Portugal in Gelsenkirchen three years ago are still fresh and, as he closes in on his 50th cap, many wonder whether any lessons have been learned.

Capello admitted he had spoken to the Manchester United striker this week, not so much about his conduct, more his importance to the team.

It is a position Capello does not imagine will change in the near future, which is probably one of the reasons why he has not castigated the 23-year-old.

“I do not need to tell Wayne Rooney to cool down,” he said.

“Sometimes, to do that is impossible. I played the game. On occasions I was like that too.

“It depends on the opponents, the result and lots of other things. You need to be aggressive. We need the fire because it is part the England spirit.”