Soccer: England manager fires salvo at 'crazy man' Rooney

No, not Edvard Munch's <i>The Scream</i>: just Wayne Rooney in frustrated mood.

England football manager Fabio Capello has warned star player Wayne Rooney that he has to learn to keep his temper under control.

The England manager even joked in front of the squad that Rooney was a "crazy man" for punching a corner flag playing for Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

With a World Cup qualifier looming, Rooney's temper has been a source of concern for the Italian, although this latest dressing down was his most public yet.

Capello spoke to Rooney during the morning training session yesterday, accusing him - in his less than perfect English - of being a "crazy, crazy man" for his outburst after his sending-off against Fulham at the weekend.

It is understood that the players were reduced to laughter at Capello's take on Rooney's behaviour, but that it was intended to have a serious point nonetheless.

Capello has been alarmed by Rooney's tendency to lose his cool and admitted that he told the player to calm down at half-time during the friendly against the United States last May after two dreadful challenges by Rooney.

The Manchester Utd striker was given a second yellow card on Saturday at Fulham for throwing the ball at referee Phil Dowd as United's players lined up for a free-kick. On his way off the pitch Rooney punched a corner flag.

Rooney has been told to rein in his tackles during training and the issue of his behaviour is of sufficient worry to Capello that it was among the first things he raised with his squad this week.

The England manager is well aware that Rooney's temper probably cost one of his predecessors, Sven Goran Eriksson, a place in the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup when the player was sent off against Portugal for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho.

The England squad is preparing for a friendly against Slovakia on Saturday followed by a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Wednesday.

England currently sit comfortably atop their World Cup qualifying group.

- INDEPENDENT