Wayne Rooney's three-game suspension that rules him out of the Euro 2012 group stage has become a polarizing story in the English soccer community.
Rooney's automatic one-game ban was extended to three for violent contact by UEFA following his kick of a Montenegrin player during England's final Euro qualifying match. As a result, the earliest he'd be able to play in the tournament would be the first game of the knockout stage -- should England get there.
The suspension has raised the question whether manager Fabio Capello should include Rooney on his summer roster altogether, and one former England standout is firmly in Rooney's corner.
"I think anyone else maybe not, but he is England's best player," Alan Shearer told the BBC. "If it were me at this moment, he is our best player and even if the three-game ban still stands, then I would take him."
Here are a few more stories to kick off your Friday:
Inter Milan's shaky start to the season continued with the word that Diego Forlan will miss up to two months of action after hurting his hamstring on international duty.
Forlan pulled his hamstring while playing for Uruguay against Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, which adds to Inter's woes. Coutinho and Thiago Motta are also on the mend with injuries, and goalkeeper Julio Cesar and playmaker Wesley Sneijder are doubtful for the weekend's match against Catania.
Forlan has scored just once in five games since joining the club from Atletico Madrid over the summer.
DALGLISH BACKS GERRARD
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has reportedly told Steven Gerrard that he'd like him to be a part of the club beyond when his contract expires in 2013, reassuring the captain of his place in the squad.
Gerrard has been reduced to a substitute's role in the early going this season, leading some to believe that his time with his hometown club, where he has played since 1998, could be coming to an end; however, that no longer appears to be the case given Dalglish's comments, and there's speculation that Gerrard is slated to return to the starting lineup ahead of Liverpool's clash with Manchester United this weekend.
MOROCCO TO HOST OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS
After Egypt bowed out of hosting Africa's Olympic qualifying matches because of safety concerns, Morocco has been anointed as the new host of the tournament.
The qualifying tournament conflicts with Egypt's parliamentary elections, leading the country's federation to think otherwise about managing the games as well. Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Nigeria and Gabon will fight for three places at the London games next summer.
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Do you think Capello should bring Rooney to Euro 2012? Think Inter can overcome Forlan's injury? Do you think Liverpool should move on from Gerrard? Who do you see winning the Liverpool-Man U clash? Who do you see qualifying for the Olympics out of Africa?
Share your thoughts below.
