England manager Roy Hodgson will avoid the issue of Rio Ferdinand at least until the eve of England's Euro 2012 opener against France in Donetsk.
But it will take only another injury - perhaps even to John Terry, who is struggling with a hamstring problem - to place it once more at the top of the agenda.
FA chairman David Bernstein has said he wants only to talk about the players who've travelled to Poland, not "historical" or "extraneous" issues.
And winger Stewart Downing has insisted the players are "certainly not" talking about Rio Ferdinand's controversial non-selection, telling a news conference: "Whoever the manager picks, you just get on with it."
Ferdinand's brother Anton, appearing on ITV's Daybreak programme, appeared keen for people to "move on" from the debate.
However, France manager Laurent Blanc - perhaps sensing an issue on which he can destabilise England's squad ahead of their clash on Monday in Group D - expressed his surprise at Rio Ferdinand's omission.
"From afar," said Ferdinand's former Manchester United club-mate, "I do not think it was a decision based on sport."
But Hodgson, who remains likely to face further difficult questions about Ferdinand, is not scheduled to speak publicly until Sunday, the eve of the game against France.
The Times reported on Thursday that Hodgson has had a "robust talk' with former England captain Terry, aimed at the player avoiding further controversy.
It is unlikely that he will be among a number of England players, staff and executives who will visit Auschwitz and the Schindler factory on Friday.
Terry's candour was a feature of England's ill-fated campaign at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Then, he was reprimanded by Fabio Capello, who said the player made a "big mistake" by publicly stating that the squad planned to air their grievances about tactics and other issues in a meeting with the Italian.
His date before Westminster magistrates eight days after Euro 2012, where he will deny racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, Anton, during a Premier League game last October - will also bring further difficult headlines.
The Sun, meanwhile, has quoted the France and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra saying his squad has been boosted by Ferdinand's omission from England's ranks.
"I am really surprised Rio isn't playing," Evra is reported as saying. "He's a big, strong player and I just don't know what is happening. Maybe Rio has every reason to feel disappointed. Whatever, though, it's great for us. I will text him in the next few days to see how he is feeling."
Ferdinand has declined to comment.
Striker Jermaine Defoe flew home from Poland only a day after flying out, following the death of his father, Jimmy. The FA said in a statement the 29-year-old would return "in due course".
He will not be replaced in the squad but it's not clear if he'll be able to return in time for the France game on Monday.
