Rami unconcerned by Rooney absence

France defender Adil Rami has no sympathy for suspended England forward Wayne Rooney ahead of their Euro 2012 clash.

Rooney was red-carded in England’s qualifier against Montenegro for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic.

The Manchester United goalscorer was subsequently handed a two-match ban that rules him out of his side’s opening games in Poland and Ukraine.

“If Rooney can’t play it’s his own fault,” Valencia centre-back Rami told Goal.com.

“He himself looked for it in qualification, and there is no problem for France. We are concentrated on our own job.”

The former Lille player insisted that Laurent Blanc’s men would not treat the match lightly, despite their opponents being without a number of stars due to physical complaints.

“There is too much talk about the England players who are out injured, but we won’t relax at all in this match,” Rami said.

“The game against England will require an enormous effort physically. The team that defends best will win the game and I am confident that will be France, although it won’t be easy at all.

“How can we overcome England’s physical power? First of all I think there isn’t too much difference between the two teams (in that respect), but the key will be to anticipate their actions and avoid giving away fouls close to the area.

“It will be a hard match and a real test to start the tournament.

“England’s future (in the competition) is similar to ours. It depends on what happens in the first match.”

Indeed, Rami, like many of his compatriots, has been quick to play down the success of France in the pre-tournament friendlies, which saw them defeat Iceland, Serbia and Estonia and extend their unbeaten run to 21 games.

“We arrive with optimism at these European Championship, but with no euphoria. We have learnt our lesson after what has happened in the last few years and we have to avoid a repeat of that, however we can,” Rami said, hinting at the debacle France suffered at the 2010 World Cup.

“I feel good sensations and vibrations after the friendlies ahead of the Euros.

“We have played well and arrive at the competition in good shape, but now is the moment of truth and if we lose to the English everything will change for the worse. Football has those things.”