Retirements rock England

Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs were set to begin their England careers this morning against a chaotic backdrop after Wes Brown joined Paul Robinson in quitting international football.

Either side of watching Wayne Rooney excel in Manchester United’s defeat of Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley, England boss Fabio Capello was forced to digest news he did not want to hear from players he had named in his squad for Wednesday’s friendly with Hungary fewer than 24 hours earlier.