Former England boss Terry Venables history can repeat itself after Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's three-match ban.

El Tel wrote in The Sun: "Is there life without Wayne Rooney?

"Of course there is. The news that England's best player will be banned for the first three matches of Euro 2012 is obviously a big blow.

"And it gives Fabio Capello a headache he could have done without as he prepares for his Three Lions swansong.

"But it is not the end of the world. In fact, it just might be the catalyst for a brave new one.

"You only have to go back 45 years and look at events during the greatest summer in the history of English football to realise that.

"For those of you too young to know - or too old to remember - let me remind you.

"Some thought England's hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966 were gone when our main goalscoring threat Jimmy Greaves was ruled out of the quarter-final against Argentina with a gashed shin.

"But in came Geoff Hurst and the rest, as they say, is history."