England must take Wayne Rooney to Euro 2012 even though he cannot play in the group stages, ac-cording to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Rooney has been suspended for three matches by UEFA for kicking out at an opponent in last week’s final qualifying game in Montenegro.
But Wenger insists England manager Fabio Capello cannot leave the Manchester United striker at home when his side head for Poland and Ukraine.
Wenger said: “I am not in a position to tell Fabio Capello what he has to do. You ask me my opinion, I give you my opinion that he should go to the European Championship, of course.
“You cannot expect your national team to win the European Championship and leave him out just because he misses the qualifying stage. That doesn’t work well together. If you expect your team to win you have to take your best player even if he doesn’t play the first three games.”
Wenger insists Rooney’s punishment was harsh but understands why UEFA have made an example of the star. He also urged the Football Association not to appeal against the length of the ban.
“I have experienced myself that UEFA can be very harsh. You have to accept it,” Wenger said.
“The FA has to make a decision on the appeal knowing that they can be punished more. The maximum they can gain is one game but they risk getting one game more so maybe it would be wise not to do anything.”
Wenger, however, believes critics should not be too hard on Rooney.
Wenger added: “He is a great player. The other day he had a bad reaction. I’ve seen that from Zidane and many great players.
“It’s sometimes a consequence of the immense pressure they are under, everybody expects them always to do something special.
“On the day he knows that he had not a special day because recently he was exceptional in every single game and on the day he was not in such good form and he was frustrated.
“He shouldn’t have done it but you cannot have the commitment of Rooney and as well not expect that in one game he can go a little bit overboard. He is a guy who fights in every single game.”