Capello says England are a match for Spain
Enlarge imageBy Chris Hatherall
LONDON (Reuters) - England manager Fabio Capello is so confident in the progress of his team that he believes they are already good enough to challenge European champions Spain.
Capello watched the Euro 2008 championship in Switzerland and Austria but returned home convinced that his own side, who had failed to qualify, were more than a match for anything he saw there.
As England prepare to face the Czech Republic in a friendly at Wembley on Wednesday, Capello has challenged his players to prove him right in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
"The Czech game is an important game because I hope to get the answers from the players that I expect," he told reporters on Friday.
"I have confidence in these players, confidence because I’ve seen the steps we’ve taken in four friendly matches.
"I saw the Euros and the other teams and I think we are a very good team. I think we will win.
"The other managers before me is not important, this is my idea and my opinion. I know the players very well now."
Capello’s confidence contrasts with the views of many experts who saw Spain win Euro 2008 with an attractive and technical style of football that England have struggled to emulate under a series of coaches.
The current manager is adamant that the Spanish can be matched.
.....continued below
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"I think three months ago people never spoke about Spain. Now they are the best team in the world -- it’s a miracle!" the Italian said."Spain is a very good team, they played well. But we are a different style and I think we can win against Spain. Why not? I’m very confident in my team."
Capello sees Wednesday’s match as a dress rehearsal for two away World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia in September and believes his team are warming to his ideas and methods.
"When I started working with the players they were a bit scared and afraid," he said. "But after that a lot of players have played better.
"It was not fear about me -- it was just very soon after failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and for the players it was like an examination or a test. Now it is different.
"I know what these players can do. When playing with their clubs there is no losing mentality, there is a winning mentality. We have to transfer the same mentality to the national team, to play with the same confidence.
"I think they know me now -- my style, the movement around the pitch that I want. They know and it is better now."
Capello’s biggest problem is to find a goalscorer to lead the line for England given that Michael Owen is injury prone and Wayne Rooney has struggled to score as often as his reputation demands.
He believes the lack of strike power is a problem shared by teams worldwide.
"Only (Spain’s Fernando) Torres is a big striker in this moment in the world. The others -- Italy: so-so, Germany: so-so. Portugal: no. Also the French, you didn’t see anything. It’s a big problem now because the teams defend very well. It’s a problem everywhere.
"You have to play in a different style -- the other players they have to score more goals."
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By Chris Hatherall
LONDON (Reuters) - England manager Fabio Capello is so confident in the progress of his team that he believes they are already good enough to challenge European champions Spain.
Capello watched the Euro 2008 championship in Switzerland and Austria but returned home convinced that his own side, who had failed to qualify, were more than a match for anything he saw there.
As England prepare to face the Czech Republic in a friendly at Wembley on Wednesday, Capello has challenged his players to prove him right in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
"The Czech game is an important game because I hope to get the answers from the players that I expect," he told reporters on Friday.
"I have confidence in these players, confidence because I’ve seen the steps we’ve taken in four friendly matches.
"I saw the Euros and the other teams and I think we are a very good team. I think we will win.
"The other managers before me is not important, this is my idea and my opinion. I know the players very well now."
Capello’s confidence contrasts with the views of many experts who saw Spain win Euro 2008 with an attractive and technical style of football that England have struggled to emulate under a series of coaches.
The current manager is adamant that the Spanish can be matched.
"I think three months ago people never spoke about Spain. Now they are the best team in the world -- it’s a miracle!" the Italian said.
"Spain is a very good team, they played well. But we are a different style and I think we can win against Spain. Why not? I’m very confident in my team."
Capello sees Wednesday’s match as a dress rehearsal for two away World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia in September and believes his team are warming to his ideas and methods.
"When I started working with the players they were a bit scared and afraid," he said. "But after that a lot of players have played better.
"It was not fear about me -- it was just very soon after failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and for the players it was like an examination or a test. Now it is different.
"I know what these players can do. When playing with their clubs there is no losing mentality, there is a winning mentality. We have to transfer the same mentality to the national team, to play with the same confidence.
"I think they know me now -- my style, the movement around the pitch that I want. They know and it is better now."
Capello’s biggest problem is to find a goalscorer to lead the line for England given that Michael Owen is injury prone and Wayne Rooney has struggled to score as often as his reputation demands.
He believes the lack of strike power is a problem shared by teams worldwide.
"Only (Spain’s Fernando) Torres is a big striker in this moment in the world. The others -- Italy: so-so, Germany: so-so. Portugal: no. Also the French, you didn’t see anything. It’s a big problem now because the teams defend very well. It’s a problem everywhere.
"You have to play in a different style -- the other players they have to score more goals."
(Editing by Clare Fallon)
© 2008 Reuters Click for restrictions
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