Rooney will be suspended for at least the first match of England's Euro 2012 campaign next summer after recklessly lashing out at Miodrag Dzudovic during the 2-2 draw.

The punishment could turn out to be even worse as UEFA have discretionary powers over such incidents, and at the very least Rooney has proved England's opponents with an incentive to target him.

It was the kind of needless, unprovoked incident that has scarred the 25-year-old's career periodically, despite repeated claims by Rooney that he is now a much calmer person and more in control of his emotions.

In the bowels of a stadium that reverberated to the jubilation of the hosts securing a play-off berth at the final whistle, Capello did not quite say it was a failing England must live with.

But it was clear his opinion of Rooney remained undiminished.

"Absolutely yes," said Capello, when asked if he still trusted the Manchester United man.

"Why not? He is a really good player. A really important player.

"When he is at the top he makes the difference.

"For a long time he has been the best player of the national team and I am sure he will be really important at the Euros because he is very proud."

In fairness to Capello, he did not give the impression of a man who felt let down, even though he had spoken to the player on the eve of the game about his mental state, given Rooney had just been informed of his father's arrest as part of an ongoing investigation into a betting scam.

"You can't read everything," countered the Italian.

"If he scores a goal, do you think about what happened 45 or 60 minutes before?

"Players are difficult to understand.

"When you have one player who is so good, it is difficult to read everything he will do in a game.

"He can do something fantastic and he can make a silly mistake."

And a "silly mistake" is how Capello viewed it.

Others might say it was a gross error of judgment and smacked of an individual lacking in self control.

Yet Capello maintained it was part of Rooney's life lessons, denying the striker - who has now been sent off six times, two of them on England duty - was less aware of his responsibilities on national service than when Sir Alex Ferguson is looming over him at United.

"I have seen him once do the same (for United) and the referee gave him a yellow card. This time the referee decided a red," said Capello.

"I was surprised at that because he kicked but not to crush the legs.

"It was just in front of me. I saw everything. For me it was an orange card."

Nevertheless, there is zero chance of German referee Wolfgang Stark changing his view of an incident most felt he dealt with appropriately.

The first consequence was to cost England victory as they surrendered a lead achieved in some degree of comfort.

Now Capello must deal with the second - namely finding a replacement for that opening game, or games, depending on what UEFA decide.

Having already pledged to use forthcoming friendlies to blood new faces, Capello offered two up ahead of a confirmed November 12 encounter with world and European champions Spain at Wembley.

"Two forwards were not here; (Jermain) Defoe and (Daniel) Sturridge," he said.

"They are really good players and for that reason I have the solution for the games Rooney can't play."

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley should also come into the reckoning, if fit, whilst Phil Jones did sufficiently well to warrant a chance in his favoured central defensive role.

However, other issues also exist, like how England managed not to win a game they were in complete control of for most of the first half.

"It's really important to be focused," said Capello.

"At half-time I told the players they had done really well for 35 minutes and hadn't played like professionals for the last 10.

"They were too relaxed."