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Fabio Capello last night fired a barbed parting shot at Wayne Rooney to blame the Manchester United man for England's Euro 2012 exit.

Former Three Lions chief Capello was furious over Rooney's suggestions that tactical messages during his reign were "lost in translation" because of the Italian's limited English.

But after Roy Hodgson admitted Rooney's anodyne display in the quarter-final penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Italy had been a key factor in England's early exit, Capello stuck the boot in.

(Image: Michael Regan - The FA)

"After watching the last game I think that Rooney understands only Scottish," said Capello, in a reference to the Scouser's Old Trafford manager.

"That's because he only plays well in Manchester, where Sir Alex Ferguson speaks Scottish."

It was a clear hit back at Rooney by Capello, who was angered and irritated by the Manchester United's striker's comments.

(Image: Claudio Villa)

Capello's long-standing aide Italo Galbiati, one of his England coaching staff, responded: "He's ungrateful. Capello made himself understood and respected. Football has only one language: the ball. He cannot teach us anything."

But Capello's decision to make a public slur in person is one that is unlikely to go unnoticed by the Old Trafford striker.

Under the terms of his settlement with the FA, Capello is not allowed to comment on the England team or his successor, but by making the link between Rooney's displays for his club and those for his country the Italian was also questioning Hodgson's ability to influence his key on-field asset.

Roy Hodgson himself has been critical of Wayne Rooney's performance in Ukraine, claiming England's star man did not deliver .