Harry Redknapp believes Wayne Rooney's red card against Montenegro could prove costly to England's Euro 2012 campaign.
Spurs boss fears England could struggle in Rooney's absence
Harry Redknapp believes Wayne Rooney's red card against Montenegro could prove costly to England's Euro 2012 campaign.
The Manchester United striker was sent off in the 73rd minute of Friday night's 2-2 qualifying draw for a petulant kick out at Montenegro centre-back Miodrag Dzudovic.
The draw was enough to seal England's place in next summer's European finals but Rooney will now be suspended for the first match, and possibly more depending on whether Uefa impose an additional punishment.
Costly
Tottenham boss Redknapp believes his absence could end up costing the Three Lions dearly in their hunt for European success.
"It's hugely disappointing," Redknapp wrote in his column in
The Sun.
"He could be missing for the entire group stage and the rush of blood could end up costing him and England dearly.
"A likely two-game ban at the start of the Euro 2012 finals is a massive, massive blow for England.
"He just cannot go around doing that sort of thing. We thought we'd seen the last of it but I guess he had his angry head on after all.
"Rooney is a ferocious competitor for Manchester United and for England but there has to be a line."
Rooney featured for England in the wake of the arrest of his father and uncle over a match-fixing probe, prompting questions over whether he should have been selected by manager Fabio Capello.
On whether the Italian coach was right to gamble with the striker, Redknapp said: "It looked like it for most of the game - but then what Rooney did was just stupid.
"I was thinking how mature he looked and how the situation involving his dad and his uncle had clearly not affected him and he had moved on."
Formidable
Despite his sending off Redknapp believes Rooney, as well as fellow forwards Theo Walcott and Ashley Young, looked formidable in attack for England.
"The three forward players all did well," he added. "Ashley Young, Theo Walcott and Rooney - aside from his sending off, of course.
"There is pace, energy and talent in that area and they are progressive players."
