05 December,2011 01:04 PM IST | | ANI
England coach Fabio Capello has cranked up pressure on UEFA to reduce key striker Wayne Rooney's three-match ban at Euro 2012.
According to The Sun, Capello is now refusing to confirm publicly that Rooney will go to the finals if the length of his suspension is upheld at Thursday's appeal in Nyon.
Rooney is one of the faces of the tournament and sponsors are desperate for him to play as full a part as possible.
Currently, he is set to miss all England's Group D games against France, Sweden and Ukraine.
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And, if the Three Lions fail to reach the knockout stages, he would not kick a ball in the competition.
Capello knows Rooney is important to the event itself. So, even though he has told the Manchester United striker privately he will be on the plane, he is leaving doubt in UEFA minds.
The England boss and Rooney will be in Nyon, Switzerland for the appeal with Capello hoping the ban is cut so his star can feature in the final group match.
