Parry in shock Wales retirement

Paul Parry has stunned Wales two days before a vital World Cup qualifier by retiring from international football.

BBC Sport Wales understands that the Cardiff City attacker was unhappy at being left on the bench during the 1-0 win over Azerbaijan on Saturday.

The 28-year-old was told by Wales boss John Toshack that he would start the match away to Russia on Wednesday.

But despite that Parry left the squad on Sunday night, ending a 12-cap career in which he scored one goal for Wales.

Parry had only recently returned to the Wales squad following an 18-month self-imposed absence.

He withdrew from Wales' Euro 2008 qualifying mid-campaign citing personal reasons.

Rooney unfazed by England drought- live football score

Wayne Rooney insists his England goalscoring record is not weighing on his mind as he approaches Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Croatia.

The Manchester United striker has scored only five times for England in four years and was again off target in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Andorra.

However, ahead of the crunch game in Zagreb, he said of his lack of goals for England: "I've no problem with it.

"It's a new campaign, a new start and hopefully we can do well."

Observers have noted Rooney's other contributions aside from goalscoring and he showed the creative side of his game in setting up Joe Cole's second goal at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona at the weekend.

Midfielder Frank Lampard agrees that Rooney need not worry about his recent lack of international goals.

"The thing with Wayne is that he is not just a goalscorer," stated the Chelsea star.

"He is a creator and works hard for the team, creating angles, not only an out-and-out striker."

Rooney insists his only concern is a good team performance and he added: "Croatia are a good footballing team and we know we'll have to be at the top of our game.

"We'll have to defend well, first of all, and create opportunities going forward. Hopefully we can do that."

The meeting will be the first between the sides since England's disastrous 3-2 defeat at Wembley in November 2007, a loss that resulted in then manager Steve McClaren's squad failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

However, captain John Terry and former skipper David Beckham are insistent that the match is not about revenge.

"It's not about having a score to settle," said Beckham. "We just want to get a good result and put a good performance in.

"We know Croatia have got some really good players and we know it's very hostile there but we have to forget about what has gone on in the past. This is the present and we have to work towards what we want to achieve in this group."

Terry commented: "I don't want to get across any kind of revenge message but, at the same time, it's a new campaign and we are going there to pick up three points so if we can get off to a good six-point start then we will take that.

"We have to rise to the challenge. We know it's difficult and we know they have not been beaten there for a long time.

"We have to go there with a clean slate and not think about the last game we played against them."