Time for Capello to deliver

Under Sven-Goran Eriksson, "The Golden Generation" lost only five competitive games 2001-2006 (a record?) before he and the squad were "rewarded" by the media hype that led to a disheartened England team fizzling out of the last W-Cup (while the Official fan organisations howled "Save our Sven" to no avail) and then crashed in flames for Euro '08.
Far from being a potential "saviour", Capello has a lot to live up to come near Sven's record!

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England weren't just outsmarted by Croatia, Croatia were technically superior to England as well. They coped much better with the bad pitch at Wembley. Why don't people admit that the current generation may be the best paid in the world but that doesn't guarantee the best quality.

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We're not under-achievers. We are achieving exactly what we are worth.

The sooner the media gets this through, the less hostile and silly they'll be and the quicker we can get back to loving our national team.

Mr Capello is a very clever football manager as was Sven. Look at what Sven has already done with Mexico, they are in the top ten now. To come back with 4 points would be an absolute achievement, not because he left Michael Owen at home but because there is a serious lack of competition for spots in this England side.
England will beat Andorra by 2 or 3 nil but will be lucky to get a 0-0 draw in Zagreb.
I forsee very dark days ahead for Capello, not for want of doing his best but due to the fact that England just dont have that depth to be a truely strong international force.

Has it maybe ever occured to you that the english simply expect too much and think they are much better than they actually are. Just because you won a world cup back in the 60's doesnt mean your gonna win every last trophy there is. Stop whinning and go play some football, thats what its all about.

Imperative that we come back with at least a point from Zagreb otherwise it's going to be a long and stressful road for all us England supporters. For me we need to score at least 5 against Andorra as the goal difference will be more important than ever for this campaign.

i actually might be the only person left in this country who actually thinks we will both games.

i just have one of those feelings (very scientific!) that the lads will perform when the proverbial hits the fan.

They are, inspite of what alot of people say, good professionals who will feel that they owe croatia after they humilated them last year. If you remember the spanking we gave germany all those moons ago was preceeded by a couple of embarrassing defeats (keegans last game if i remember rightly)

Capello is, until proven otherwise, a better manager than sven. He is in a different universe to mclaren. I have enough faith in him and the players left to be hopeful and quitely confident - he says....

ToonArmy do you not have anything constructive to say, you appear to be about as intelligent as the people running your club.

I don't think that Croatia are any more technically gifted than our players. They just play as Bilic wants them to with a huge team ethic.

This is the job that Capello has to do. Form a team ethic and trust within his players and get them to transfer it to the field of play. Then we will see an England team that can play good football.

I agree that leaving Owen at home may prove to be a bad idea. Hopefully he will then learn that he has to replace him with a goal scorer before removing England's most prolific striker since Shearer.

We must show confidence against Andorra and Croatia. Get the team to believe that they can beat these opposition at international level because they would in the premier league. England must believe in itself!

There isn't much a coach can do if he is given a squad completely dearth of technical quality, inability to adapt a different tactic and formation, doesn't have any quality strikers(bar on form Owen), a midfield devoid of creativity and a defence failed to operate as a unit accompanied with a non world class goalkeeper. I feel sorry for Capello.

Capello has proven himself from time to time. He probably is the most qualified coach for England and should he fails, England can only blame themselves.

Come off it Phil.

We all know that England are not a major footballing force, saved only by it's oil-funded, Murdoch lovechild the Premiership.

Although the FIFA rankings are usually nonsense - remember when USA were 2nd? - a 15th place position is about right for a country that has done nothing in international football for 42 years.

Phil, any thoughts on who Fabio will pick for the Midfield Quartet? (If he goes for 4)

Time for Lampard to deliver surely?

One more thing about Capello, being that he is an Italian and very probably knows Englands strengths and weakness's, i feel that he will play for a 0-0 draw in Zagreb.

I'm convinced that England are unable to play with the mental toughness that is necessary for success in international football.
Much, if not all, of this is due to the hysterical reporting of the team, that began in the tabloid press, but now appears in the mainstream media.
This blog is representative of a typical pre match review of England fixtures by a reporter.
Full of hyperbole, £6m lavished on him by the FA.
Change the name Capello to any other past England manager and the names of the opposition to past opponents of the England team and this blog could have been written about numerous former England campaigns.
It would be interesting to run plagiarism software on the blog. I wouldn't be surprised if it scored a few hits with archived reports.
Anyway, that's my view.

I love the Bullard inclusion, just a shame he nearly 30. Would love to see a more mobile and quicker midfield four built over the next few years. Big, hard running players who can kick the ball really hard just get turned around way to easily by technically good opposition.
Owen is an intelligent striker with a sniper instinct against the top teams, dread relying on Defoe for goals against the best defences in the World, never gonna happen. Still, he can get a few against Andorra!!!

While I wish Capello and England well, I don't think it was a good idea to appoint a manager, who has not managed in the UK.
I wasn't against the idea of an non-English manager, and would have considered O'Niell, Wenger or Mourhino as suitable.
Capello, however, knows little about our English players, about the English mentality etc. and so will take him longer to settle in and make a difference. That doesn't mean to say he won't be able to bring success.
It all goes to show how poor the FA are at getting things right the first time round.
Look at previous appointments!!!

Please please give Walcott a chance out on the right, his pace would be a fear for any opposition and those balls he puts into the box just behind the defenders heals would beg for lamps to smash them!

I feel that capello has actually wasted a lot of his friendlies.

Lampard and gerrard together again!

Playing Rooney as a lone striker when all season he's been the man who's dropped back and provided the link for Man U!

I'm tired of watching a manager who tries to make the best individual 11 work, again and again and again rather than create a team with attributes suiting those around them.

Defoe was the joint top english goal scorer in the prem last season (with Gerrard and Rooney) yet has not been given half the same chance to prove himself internationally.

It's just wrong, all wrong!

Unfortunately this has nothing to do with Capello. England is just not a great footballing nation. in the past 26 years there has been 6 teams in the world cup final.

THIS WILL NOT CHANGE.

The closest any country came was Portugal. You cannot even compare Deco, Ronaldo, Maniche, Carvalho to their english counterparts. It would be unfair on such players.

Someone will undoubtedly reply that Gerrard is this and Terry is that. If this case is true then the team will succeed but it's not so it won't.
You should qualify but honestly come cup time you will never better the likes of Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Germany. These are real footballing powerhouses. England is not one. Debate over.

England have great players but are not a great team.

The England squad simply don't seem to be able to play with one another. Maybe too many egos? Maybe they beleive their own hype? Maybe they just aint as good as the media would lead the fans to believe?

Everytime a young English player comes onto the scene, the media bills them as 'the next best thing', inevitably putting a hell of a lot of pressure on them. If they don't instantly produce what they are said to have the ability too, the fans get on their back and the media shoot them down. Rooney, Walcott, Lennon, Downing to name but a few.

As a proud Welshman, I am used to years of not qualifying, I don't tend to expect too much and therefore if we do get a result it make me extremely happy...if we don't then I am none too suprised.

Ithinf Phil Mcnulty is too optimistis to await at least four points from the matches against Andorra and Croatia. While the three points against Andorra are easy to achieve, even hoping for a point against Croatia is more difficult.

We foreign followers of English Premiership football can well appreciate this difficulty. It is obvious that the attacking mentality displayed in the domestic league does not give the required results against middle to top European teams. When the top England footballers play against top opposition like Croatia, England's shortcomings are there for all to see.

I pity someone like Capello who attends domestic matches with the remote chance of discovering new English talent. There is a dearth of stars around. One has to keep in mind that most of the Premiership stars who deliver the goods are foreigners.

I also pity the coach when he is pressurised to select players who, desite their name, are simply not delivering. To say nothing of public opinion which still views certain players as stars, even though they are past their prime.

The fans have to get it into their heads that England's football players are not up to scratch. Lesser paid counterparts in other countries feel greatly honoured to wear the national colours. Maybe historical circumstances have imbued them with a great sense of nationalism, which helps them in their matches.

English players, unfortunately, all seem more interested in their salaries and their extravagant lifestyles, than donning the national colours.

At least Phil is being realistic in demanding a point from the Croatia game - most English media will be expecting/demainding a win. The English media have to accept that their players are just not good enough.

Is this the beginnings of the English media turning on another good manager because of the greed and over spending by clubs that has limited opportunity for home grown talent in favour of desperately trying to claim to having the 'best league in the world'?

Which manager will you hound out next and will there be any English players for him to pick in the EPL?

I hope youz get humped.

Capello has already proved himself to be one of the best managers in the world. England need to prove that they can play football.

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I'm afraid that this article sums up exactly what is wrong with English football; the vastly over-inflated opinion it has of itself.

Look at England's record since winning in 1966. One WC semi final and one EC semi (with home advantage) in 21 tournaments, many of which we failed to even qualify for. We are NOT a genuine power so why all the hype?

Croatia are one of Europe's top sides. Their record since becoming an independent country is very impressive and they are particularly strong at home. However, McNulty glosses over that and ludicrously states that anything other than at least a draw would be a failure on Capello's behalf. His lack of respect for the Croatians and his jingoistic, blokey patriotism betray a fundamental lack of football knowledge.

There would be no disgrace in losing to Croatia, provided it's not some 4-0 drubbing. The issue becomes that if we DO lose then we have extra pressure on subsequent matches NOT to lose. I'm thinking of the potentially tricky trip to Ukraine, in particular. We would also almost certainly HAVE to win all our home games and goal difference could also then become a deciding factor.

Michael Owen hasn't been 100% fit for three years or so and relying on him is not a sensible ploy. Bullard is clearly a stop-gap to cover injuries. Yes, Lampard needs to step it up a level and Rooney needs to now start moving on from being a promising international striker into a consistently threatening one.

Ahhh, I feel better now!

England will qualify this time around. If they don't, they should probably just give up.
Capello is a great coach, but has he ever worked with the English media on his back before?

If you look at the team, where have all the strikers gone? I'n not sure who exactly is injured, I'm sure I'll be told, but no Owen? Ashton? Crouch? Agbonlahor?

And when will Milner get a chance? Bound to be better then Beckham, who is currently in career wind down mode with the stuttering Galaxy.
There is a dearth of serviceable widemen in the Premiership who could help the team, because at the moment, there is no real width in the England team, no deadly crosses for the likes of Crouch and Ashton to NOT get a head to, seeing as how they are not there. But you know what I mean.

With the 'keepers, I'd tell James to do one. He is not the future. Joe Hart should be given the job, or maybe Green. In the future Foster will be up there, if VDS ever retires and he can get a game that is.

But this is the bit I don't get. The defense. The last 4 (probably more) Premier Leagues have been won by someone in that back 4. John Terry should be the Vidic to Ferdinand, Ashley Cole is great coming forward and has bags of pace, Brown is a stop gap, but the guy has a hatful of medals, so we know he can do a job. But it doesn't work at the International level.

Are we missing something here? Ego's aside, these guys know what it means to where their nations jersey. Or maybe it just means something different than what all you England fans think it means.

Anyways, good luck, I hope you get the 6 points. The fans need something to cheer about to stop all the whining.

Get it up them Trappatoni, Ireland for the World Cup :)

Does Capello have to prove anything? He wouldn't have the job in the first place if he did.
Asking him to 'deliver' with what he's has, is a bit like asking Da Vinci to paint the Mona Lisa with a floor mop.
It would be better to support him and the youth team management in building for the future with the good bit's that we already have.
However, what will happen is the reptiles in the media will prefer the muck slinging in the sewer that is British journalism.

I can my last penny on Capello to deliver. Watch this space.

A lot of words to say that Croatia is a big game, you don't say, and 'the honeymoon is over', what are you talking about? Capello hasn't had a serious compeitive match to preside over yet. Best to reserve judgement and criticism therefore. Owen has not been picked because he lacks match form/fitness/sharpness - hasn't Capello made it clear that this is an important selection criteria? I get the impression that Capello does his own thing, makes up his own mind based on what he sees, and knows what he wants and doesn't want from players. What's wrong with that? Punters and pundits should stop trying to pick the team based on their ignorance, bias, lack of any exprience managing football at top level, or for the sake of criticising. Let's get behind the new set up/team and be positive and optimistic. You'll be the first to crow if England do well.

Let’s not forget that Capello is without a doubt the best manager in the game. He has won seven Scudetti with three different clubs, two La Liga titles, a European Cup (twice runner-up) and presided over the greatest club side of the modern era (just ask Johan Cruyff!). I think that should earn him a little respect and with it...trust.

England are chronically short of confidence. They know that failure to qualify for Euro 2008 was unforgivable. Capello has to find a way to get that confidence back, and on top of that he has to solve the technical problems that neither SGE of SM could. Let's not make too much of SGE's record. He beat lots of vastly inferior sides but when the big boys came up we simply weren't good enough. 2-1 down against Brazil in a game that would probably decide the World Champions in 2002 and SGE simply wouldn't attack. In 2006, Portugal were without Deco and Costina but they still had too much for England.

At the heart of the problem as we all know and are sick of hearing about is the lack of any sort of fluency in what should be a superb midfield. If Capello can solve this he'll unlock the potential of this side (at long last).

Right now, I don't think I'm not alone in not caring about these upcoming games at all. I'll check the results, maybe go and watch them at the pub if I don't get any better offers, but the fact is this team needs to earn our respect back. England should qualify for every tournament without much fuss. When we don't, they have only themselves to blame. Andorra will be beaten heavily. As for Croatian, who knows. It depends which England turn up. Even if they lose in Zagreb, they can neutralise the result at Wembley. Let's top talking (Mr McNulty has a habit of being extremely worried all the time) and wait and see what happens. Criticise the maestro of management at your peril though, he's not familiar with failure.

His biggest folly was not going with a new younger breed of players, getting them grounded and in the groove, but how can any manager leave out Beckham and not incur the wrath of the nation ?
Now the pundits want Beckham's head on a block, but is it too late ?
And will Capello be brave or will he just stick with the tired formula of individuals that are more concerned with their own personal agendas ?

I agree that Croatia are a great side and serioulsy believe that to take a point in Zagreb would be a great achievment.

Mr Capello isnt under any pressure (media excluded) as he has already proven that he is a great manager. His biggest job is not to go out there and try to get points at all costs but to attempt to get an underachieving England side to play together.

Should Capello achieve this then the points and qualification will follow. Bilic has built a team that has amazing respect in their own performance and one that can simply follow a game plan. If England can follow (and respect) Capello's game plan then there is no reason that they cant come back with a point from Zagreb.

Capello has no honeymoon. This sort of statement is only made to generate posts on blogs and place unwanted pressure on Mr Capello.

I have faith that Capello can get the best out of our English players. Unfortunately, England are short of truly world class players at the moment. We need a creative midfielder to partner Gerrard and a striker as good as Owen used to be. A 5-years-younger David Beckham would come in handy too =)

Like some others on here I don't think we underachieve, I think our results accurately reflect the teams abilities. The better sides in international football have a fluid team that interchange positions well. England do not have the flexibility to do this. Our players are infused with an inflated view of their own skill and ability... . Owen trotted out the line that not one Croat player was better than any England equivalent, shortly before they punted us out of Euro 08 at Wembley, and Terry constantly tells people he's 'a big man' when asked about Moscow's penalty miss. What kind of bloke walks around telling people he's a big man? Its ridiculous, and shows their grasp on reality is fed by Sky Sports News.

Our better players benefit from having some of the best overseas players in the world alongside them at their clubs, that's why they are perceived to be 'world class'on super duper grand slam Sundays or whatever. Shorn of that foreign support at Wembley they look limited and somewhat clueless. Its been that way for years sadly.

They may well nick a draw in Zagreb next week because it'll take grit and determination, and England can do that quite well, but that alone will never win the qualifying group never mind a tournament. We should re-calibrate our expectations of this team, it helps neither us or them to call them world-beaters and then castigate them for failing to live up to our unreasonable expectations.

I wish Capello the best of luck, i cant stand the England national team, and this stems back to when the likes of Zoe Ball and her ilk were going to England matches cos of the whole Beckham/Victoria celebrity bull-s, and it was the cool thing to do

England are not a world class team and never have been, the problem with England, aprt from an overzealous and often moronic members of the media, is that we always play the best players available rather than playing the best team.

Why do England managers persist with Lampard and Gerrard in the centre, or even playing Rooney who has no discipline or tactical intelligence whatsoever??

When are the likes of Bentley and Young and Agbonlahor going to get their chances??

Why cant this country's supporters and its media get it through their thick heads that England are NOT up there with Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Argentina and Spain, who all have the natural talent and tactical nous to succeed at international level??

Like i said earlier i wish Capello the best of luck, he has the experince of winning matches, and if he cant qualify England to South Africa, then its about time we finally dropped these so called golden generation once and for all.

"Any criticism of Capello so far must be placed in its proper context. He has effectively been on a fact-finding mission since his appointment to assess the best talent available to him."
Was he on a desert island? Had he never watched international matches? Had he never watched the Champions' League?
Surely he knew plenty about potential England players.
Perhaps what is more telling is that he dropped Beckham at Real and then had to bring him back.
Did England really have to get a foreign coach?
Could 'arry have done worse than Capello?
The FA knows FA!

medialoather you made me laugh with that Da Vinci comment.

I'm English and even I'm fed up with England.

IT'S THE PLAYERS, NOT THE MANAGER THAT NEED THE BLAME!!

The fact that people think Sven was a bad manager proves that; I hope Sven performs miracles at Mexico and wins the World Cup with them.

The players didn't perform for Sven, McClaren and now they're not performing for Fabio, but they know that they will be exempt from criticism.

Only in England could you have a team that doesn't qualify for Euro 2008, and yet already they are expected to go far in the next World Cup!!

I'm glad we didn't qualify for Euro 2008, and I hope we don't qualify for the World Cup.

Hopefully then the arrogance that surrounds English football may then start to subside.

But don't hold your breath.

You get what you pay for...
We have the best league in the world and by having this we sacrifice our international game. What with Man City saying today that they'll have to sacrifice the youths coming through for bigger stars in order to beat Chelsea or Man U or Carragher saying he was more upset losing for Liverpool than England, it speaks volumes...

There is far, far, far too much responsibility placed on Capello's shoulders.

It is the players who win football games. Capello gets to spend two or three days with them a month.

PLEASE! Stop focussing on the manager - he only does so much. The players nee to perform. Alas, the England team have been an uninspired bunch for years. The reasons for this are documented elsewhere but we need some players to weigh in and lift this team. I am really hoping someone like Walcott can show some class and set these games alight, lift the team and kickstart the qualifying campaign. Capello can only pick the players and give them a role - his track record suggests he is very good at that. The England players track record suggests they are not very good at their jobs! (incredibly considering their fame and fortune).

When Capello was hired the line was (from this journalist amongst others) - we have got one of the best managers in the world the players now have no excuses and nowhere to hide. That still stands for me - the buck now stops with the players. C'mon England pull your bleeding fingers out!

"Beckham looked off the pace against the Czech Republic, despite the occasional trademark set-piece delivery, but he may survive in the absence of a realistic alternative."

I'm not a Spurs fan, or indeed a Blackburn fan, but I fail to see what else David Bentley has too do to leap frog Beckham. He was outstanding for Rovers last season and from what I've seen has made a solid start to his Tottenham career.

Beckham has been an England legend but it really is time to move on.

More of the same drivel from the "correspondents". Oh, sorry. You're Chief Football Writer, aren't you? What is the difference between writer and a journalist?

"The meeting with Andorra on Saturday is almost the equivalent of an open goal in international football terms...[versus Croatia] we will see if Capello can forge a group of winners from England's perennial under-achievers."

Yeah, we really coasted to victory against Andorra last time. Is it any wonder the rest of the footballing world hates us when even the BBC's Chief Football Rambler comes up with this nonsense. Referring to a team of carpenters and plumbers as an open goal when we really struggled to beat them last time smacks of arrogance.

There will be eleven Andorrans stood between the posts of that goal. We all know that if we score against them or Croatia it will be from a wide free kick or a corner rather than fluid attacking play. Not that anyone will admit that Beckham set pieces are still are only threat. If we don't score you'll bemoan the loss of Steven "50%, that's all you're getting" Gerrard and that broken midget who only scores with his head nowadays despite the fact that they failed last time.

England didn't underachieve though. We were bettered by superior opposition. Technically and tactically. Even in that game against Andorra - you remember, the one that was a given - we were matched for 53 minutes. Every England supporter could see it all unfolding from the very start, but not the correpondents. I'm not saying we should join the likes of Scotland and throw a street party if we manage to finish top of the also-rans, but you're talking up our chances already, Chief, and England have done nothing since 1996 to warrant it.

I think England can beat Andora.

For Croatia, I suggest it is too late to create the cohesion and team spirit among the overpaid superstars, especially those venerated as members of the "Top Four" clubs who have supposedly conquered Europe with exciting football.

Realistically, the only hope is to follow Man U's example against Barca in last year's Champion$ League .. get ten men behind the ball at all times and hope to get a 0-0.
But I doubt there is enough commitment for that.

England were a World class team in the 1960s (incluidng the 1970 World Cup).

But notice the difference ...

Bobby Charlton once missed a European Cup semi-final to play in an England friendly.

I'm seriously fed up with England. Probably since Euro 96, the national side has been far too predictable and the football we've played has been completely devoid of exitement.

The media, and quite often the players themselves, need to take a step back and realise that we actually aren't very good.

The main problems for me are that we lack a decent goalkeeper and a decent centre forward at the moment. The back 4 and midfield, provided we pick the right players (Woodgate and King left out?!?!) and they stay fit are pretty decent. But Capello should be careful not to fall into the trap of every other England manager and pencil the big boys in as definates on every teamsheet. People have been talking for a few seasons now about Lampard not performing on an international stage. However he's in a comfort zone at Chelsea, with Essien, Makelele etc sitting behind him. In the Prem Lampard does nothing apart from take set pieces and score fantastic goals, but England require more from him and he cant/wont give it. Beckham is past it. I personally wouldn't include Owen in this squad because he's coming back from a long term injury and isn't quite fit yet. Carrick and Hargreaves (two of our better players) are both out. That leaves us struggling a little bit and highlights further the lack of depth we have in this country.

If I was an England manager I'd look to get as much pace and enthusiasm as possible back into the side and shake it up a bit. There may not necessarily be a sharp upturn in results, but it would certainly give some established players a kick up the backside and inject a bit of passion and enthusiasm back into a national side that people are rapidly losing interest in.

We certainly have the players at our disposal. But do have we the camaraderie? I believe that with the intense rivalry between the "top 4" it is impossible to have a true togetherness within the international set up. And with the stakes being as high as ever in our league have the players really got the same appetite playing for their country over their club?

As for the England coach what chance has he got against the English media? Sven did not have a bad record in competitive matches but was hounded by the press constantly. Capello is already getting stick and we havent played a "proper" match yet.

Personally, I believe we need a coach who can motivate the team for one off matches. Having a coach who has won many league titles in various countries is all very well but every game England play is like a cup game. Having the players for 3 days beforehand is certainly not enough time to tactically prepare

The period of transition should be about ten years.

England fans who think that the current squad has any hope of competing are living in a weird fantasy world. England's FIFA ranking is about right given the quality of players available.

Capello made an error of judgement in taking the job of England manager - I think he has already realised that.

#38
"Terry constantly tells people he's 'a big man' when asked about Moscow's penalty miss. What kind of bloke walks around telling people he's a big man? Its ridiculous, and shows their grasp on reality is fed by Sky Sports News."

Spot on - it would only be said by a total plonker with an ego the size of a super tanker.
Alas , thats our captain... and you wonder why the supporters are having problems getting behind this team.

Frankly, appointing Capello seems to have been a complete waste of time. Personally, I'd have a clearout of the team and bring in some younger, hungrier players to revitalise what is clearly a stagnating squad. Something like..

GK: Rob Green
RB: Micah Richards
CB: Rio Ferdinand (c)
CB: Jonathan Woodgate
LB: Ashley Cole
DM: Owen Hargreaves
RM: Joe Cole
AM: Steven Gerrard
AM: Wayne Rooney
LM: Ashley Young
ST: Gabby Agbonlahor

In this formation, Rooney can push up to form a front two with Agbonlahor, but also drop back to provide more of a link through midfield. Owen Hargreaves would provide cover for the defence to allow Ashley Young to get forward, and Joe Cole would be able to cut inside, allowing Richards to overlap on the right.

Who knows, playing that formation against Croatia might get them slaughtered 5-0, or might end up in a victory, but at least it would be an indication that someone is willing to try something different.

Having said that, being a Welshman I'm happy with England continuing to be beaten by much better teams whom they consider themselves above. It's a refreshing slap in the face for the redtops and their armies of deluded readers who think that beating Andorra 3-0 is a surefire sign of impending World Cup glory.

No Manager in this world can change England
There is a problem that no manager can solve.
--
If they fail media will blame Capello for not involving Owen,and if had chose him and yet failed to win the game the same media would have said its all Owens fouls and Capellos,how can he play who is not in form or not fit..
there will be millions of reasons why England failed..but i dont know whether you guys are acting blind of what because the main problem is not with the Manager, but it is will the atittude of English players..they just dont have the kind of hunger for others have..
Brazilians,Argentinians etc gives their heart and soul for the national team but English players DONT..they want to fill their bank accounts first then think about nation.
How can Lamps perform well for Chelsea but he cant with England even if he is playing an international game in England,there is the same inviroment and atmosphere,why cant Rooney do well as he does with MANUTD,why cant Gerrard to what he does for Liverpool..it is just clear that they dont CARE and give a DAMN

You can save your breath Phil. If Capello cannot save England, then no one can!!

England would probably do better without your likes attempting to bring people down before they even start the job.

I can just visualize you and the rest of your vulture journalists salivating in expectation of the salacious stories you'll be able to write in the event that we get beaten by Croatia again.

Thanks to people like you stirring up uncessary emotions in the reading public , we are where we are today.

We're not under-achievers. We are achieving exactly what we are worth.

The sooner the media gets this through, the less hostile and silly they'll be and the quicker we can get back to loving our national team.

-------------------

Exactly.

The QF's of a competition are a GOOD result.

England are NOT one of the best 4 or 5
teams in the world.

Sven WAS a success.

What was lacking was an English stamp in his passport! And the trash media had a field day with him because of that.

DazzlingDapsy - you've got it all backwards mate. It's thanks to journalists claiming England are better than they are that England are so rubbish now, not journalists claiming England are rubbish.

A couple of years in the international wilderness will do wonders for the English preception that they somehow deserve to not only qualify for every international tournament, but win them too.

You're deluded mate. Phil's just being realistic.

If every one of us is an England supporter, then everything we do gives or takes away from the team. Every comment and every thought are heard or felt so why not just try and get behind the team and manager for once?

We hav a good tried and tested manager, we have a good squad. They may not be worldbeaters but so weren't Greece!!

When I see these "if" comments and "last chance" etc. all it says is another depressed mind that can't get itself up (yes just like that) to the challenge of supporting well.

If you have not somethig to conribute in an inspiring way, let the voices who have come on and sing out loud becuase that's what the team needs :) Come on England :)

Just a side note, Does anyone actually think that John Terry is the right man to lead England? But who is there to replace him and lead this team??

eirebilly - Rio Ferdinand. Yes, he missed a drug test many years ago, but that was it. He completed the test and proved that he was clean, then served his ban like a man before going on to better himself.

Terry's just a scumbag who likes to intimidate people, and on top of that, he's not even a great defender (he's second best at his club, and third best at international level).

Hargreaves would be a good captain if he wasn't injured so often. Gerrard seems to have wilted under the pressure in the past, but he can do it for Liverpool, so why not England.

For me though, Rio's the only choice. McClapello wouldn't want to change anything though, would he?

28. At 2:16pm on 04 Sep 2008, truevillain wrote:
I'm afraid that this article sums up exactly what is wrong with English football; the vastly over-inflated opinion it has of itself.

Look at England's record since winning in 1966. One WC semi final and one EC semi (with home advantage) in 21 tournaments, many of which we failed to even qualify for. We are NOT a genuine power so why all the hype?

Croatia are one of Europe's top sides. Their record since becoming an independent country is very impressive and they are particularly strong at home. However, McNulty glosses over that and ludicrously states that anything other than at least a draw would be a failure on Capello's behalf. His lack of respect for the Croatians and his jingoistic, blokey patriotism betray a fundamental lack of football knowledge.

There would be no disgrace in losing to Croatia, provided it's not some 4-0 drubbing. The issue becomes that if we DO lose then we have extra pressure on subsequent matches NOT to lose. I'm thinking of the potentially tricky trip to Ukraine, in particular. We would also almost certainly HAVE to win all our home games and goal difference could also then become a deciding factor.

Michael Owen hasn't been 100% fit for three years or so and relying on him is not a sensible ploy. Bullard is clearly a stop-gap to cover injuries. Yes, Lampard needs to step it up a level and Rooney needs to now start moving on from being a promising international striker into a consistently threatening one.

Ahhh, I feel better now!

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Ah , truevillain thank you! THANK YOU!!!!

I actually agree with you reasoneddebate. I think that Rio would be a good leader and motivator. As a Liverpool fan i am not convinced with Gerrard. And Hargreaves would not be my choice either.
It really just leaves Rio.

I agree with GickNah, a point against Croatia is a realistic result. I don't think the problem lies with the media overestimating England's ability though. The media are the first to jump on the bandwagon of calling the team a bunch of "flops" and "failures" when a result doesn't go England's way. Indeed when we are winning consistently or a result goes England's way they are usually described as "capable of winning the World Cup'" or "World beaters".
This is exactly the trend that most of England's supporters follow. I think a major problem is ignorance, an under-estimation of other teams, rather than an over-estimation of England's own ability. So much attention was brought to Croatia and Russia's European campaign at the expense of England because they were classed as lesser teams than us.

Yet Russia reached the Semi finals, something England have failed to do in a major tournament since 1996. Croatia arguably should have been there too (But take nothing away from another so-called lesser team than the English, Turkey who had an awesome tournament).

England wouldn't have stood up against half the teams in Euro 2008 with their current form! No doubt they would have been heavily criticised for this, in contrast the Croatian and Turkish teams would have returned to their respective countries as heroes despite not returning with the trophy.

In My opinion this has undoubtedly had a negative effect upon the England players, they have lost all their confidence and belief due to unwarranted criticism of their performances.

Anyhow my point being, just because teams such as Croatia, Turkey and Russia didn't win the World Cup in 1966, it doesn't mean they're cr*pper than England and the current crop of English players should be riled at.

Now then, on to Capello, personally I think McClaren was a better choice of manager. Capello should be criticised for leaving Owen out of his squad, personally I think he is still the best English striker in the Premiership and unarguably he is a proven goalscorer for England, I really don't understand such a strange decision.
Also Gerrard should have been appointed permanent captain. Look at how he rallied Liverpool to Champions League victory in 2005, contrast that to Terry crying on the pitch in front of the whole world in 2008, enough said as far as the spirit of English football is concerned.

Also Gerrard plays all over the pitch, I don't think Terry can influence and control the team enough playing as a defender.
On the other hand giving Jimmy Bullard a chance to play is a brilliant choice, it shows Capello is indeed willing to try new players and is including players on basis of form and desire rather than on the merit of their name or club.

Remember though McClaren demonstrated this by dropping Beckham. So in what way has Capello showed his brilliance and uniqeness yet? How is he different to other England managers? He is obviously a good manager for England, but I still think McClaren should have been given more of a chance, he was English for a start. English football is unique and arguably it takes an English man to fully understand and get the best out of the English game and English players. McClaren definetly had that ability, he was assistant to Alex Feguson and Sven, and guided Boro of all teams to their first trophy in 30 years as well as a Uefa cup Semi final!! Fair enough he had a drab personality, but so did Sven and so does Capello if we're been honest!

It's going to be interesting to see if Capello will be sacked should England fail to qualify for the World Cup. Unfortunatley I would bet against it, simply because the FA with all their hype of Capello's ability don't want to look foolish and end up with egg on their face.
Let's just all hope England regain their confidence and destroy the lesser teams of Croatia, Andorra, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

We should absolutely annihilate Andorra at leats 5-0. As for the Croatia game there is no doubt that we can beat them, its all a question of whether the players turn up or not.

Maybe Sven didn't actually fail. He qualified for 3 major tournaments and got to quarter finals, maybe thats just the limit of this so called Golden Generation and Sven actually achieved what was to be expected.

Phil - take truevillain's and samplatt's comments, add into it a piece about how Gerrard has been anonymous for England for years and you have yourself a really good article.

Repeat after me:
we are average, we are average, we are average
our players are not world class, our players are not world class, our players are not world class

More importantly than how England play. Who is going to be able to see them. At least when Sky had the rights there were highlights on the BBC.

Also, why call up Bullard instead of Young?

Oh, look at him, the tabloids scream. He's such a cheeky chappy! And he used to play for Gravesend! Ho ho, what a hero's journey he's had.

He'll also be 32 when the 2010 World Cup rolls around, with only 2 years of international experience. I'm sorry, but I don't see the point.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Capello is making exactly the same mistakes as McClaren. We know Gerrard and Lampard can't play in the centre together. We know Gerrard can't play on the left. We know Rooney is best playing off a front man who can score goals (Owen).

Capello, whilst being a top class manager on paper, is just not the right man for the job. After all the years of hurt we need a manager who can play attactive passing football and get the cynical british public loving England again. Capello may, in time, be able to make successful, but it will be done playing Italian style defensive football.

We need a manager who plays with pace on the wings, and not David Beckham. David Beckham is no longer international class...he has a cracking delivery but his lack of pace forces us to play long ball. We need players like Ashley Young, especially against the weaker nations such as Andorra, who can run at defenders to transform England into an exciting team that the British public will love again...

The sooner bloggers like yourself and other parts of the media, stop blaming the manager the better.

Alot of people need to wake up and smell the coffee. The players are to blame, they are on the pitch, but for some reason are seen as heros and world class, when they continuously show they are not.

People need to realise the England players are not as good as they themselves and others think they are. When the media stops 'bigging' them up it will help also. Without the tallent and flair of foreign players around them, and due to a shocking level of 'un-adapability' that seems to run through the entire England set up, they look very average.

The English players have only one (what could be described as) 'flair player' in Joe Cole. They lack close control, techniqie, passing ability (except Beckham), and their insight and vision on the pitch is dismal.

The best I have seen England player was against Croatia in Euro 2004 when, after being 1-0 down, we came back to win 4-2 with some beautiful and incisive football, cutting the Croatian defence apart with Rooney at the spearhead with his strength, power, technique and finishing ability.

Since then however, evertime England take to the field they appear to lack passion, enthusiasm for the game, attacking or defensive vision. Generally they look poor and at a level of incompitence that no manager could turn around. One of the worst and most infuriating factors being their almost universal ability to adapt to anything other than 4-4-2 and play anywhere else other than their 'prefered position'. With Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney being notorious for this, often ending in stroppy statements to the press by the players and by lack of commitment on the field. They lack the willingness and also the ability to get on with the job when they are told to play in a different position.

In order for England to challenge for honours, there needs to be a massive technical coaching programme from grass-roots upwards, along with an attitude from the manager and coaches that if they continue to stropp around casually then they will be dropped for players who want to wear the shirt and give their all. We have too many players who see England games as a holiday or short break from what they really care about (their clubs) and too often the blame is laid elsewhere for poor performance, by the media and by the fans.

We need to start holding the players to account and stop picking on easy targets like Beckham, because the tirade towards him from the media, when he appears to be the only England player passionate enough to deliver is shocking. Gerrard, Rooney, Lampard, Terry, and others must be scrutinised and held to account for poor performances for England. They should also be dropped if they continue to play badly.

The next England squad should include players like A.Young, Walcott, Agbonlahoor, S.Taylor, Hart, Milner. Players who play with passion and are young and who can play together for England for a long time to come, Ashton must also replace Heskey as 'the big man' upfront.

Sorry to harp on about this point but England do have a good manager but there is only so much influence he can have whilst the players are playing in the heat of a game. What England desperately need is a proper leader on the field that can instill confidence and ensure that the team follow their managers game plan.

England need a proper captain!!

Its an obvious outcome for me! England minimum should be looking to offset that humiliating win in Andorra as well put up a better performance in Croatia. Even if they did lose to Croatia (which is a distinct possibility) I would expect our so called ‘world beaters’ to not just beat but crush Andorra. I fully expect Fabio Capello is the right man because he knows the tactical side better than any.

Its just we have a team with very few world class players and who all just don’t give a damn about playing for their country. Carragher sums it up that it never hurt when England lost! I suspect this is how most players think in the England team. Why? Probably losing with your club means much more because that is the loss of a pay cheque for these overpaid, overhyped under performing stars. Losing with England to them is nothing compared with the hurt that the fans feel, which is 1000 times worse! Especially the ones who have had to pay to watch these players play so poorly, where is the comfort for them???

So come on England, there are no more excuses you now need to start getting results, you know what to expect from Croatia and Andorra. If you cant they you have no one to blame but yourselves.

I can't understand the observation by Phil that David Beckham looked 'off the pace' against the Czechs. What I saw was a very fit player, chasing players down and winning the ball all over the pitch. He is STILL the best crosser of a ball in the squad and he has been the provider in 2 of England's last 4 goals. Speaks for itself.

Beckham is a model professional and continues to prove his doubters wrong. His age doesn't show at all, and he is far more effective than a lot of Premier League- based players.

Fact finding mission still are you having a laugh?
The team that played against the Czech Republic was straight out of the Sven days for pity's sake. Hardly taken him a year to come up with that one.
We were promised someone who would come in and shake the whole thing up, what we have had so far is a manager doing the exact same thing as all the previous ones!
Oh and for the record Owen has struggled to score against quality opposition for years, Azerbajian being the toughest he could manage (before anyone mentions Russia they were 64th in the world when he scored against them!).

We need a completely new team out there or we will never move on. James is too old now and proved once again that he is unreliable, neither Lampard OR Gerrard can control a game and so shouldn't be starters, then there is Beckham ... the biggest LIABILITY of the lot. If any other League 2 player was in the squad the press would be all over Capello but instead we have the usual sycophantic fawning over him that we have had for years. He was good now he drifts inside and cloggs up the centre of midfield, has no pace and always tries 50 yard "hollywood" passes that NEVER come off.

All of these should have been dropped as soon as Capello came in so that we could have a settled fresh looking side now instead of yet more from the pyrite generation!

squaremonkee:
Also Gerrard should have been appointed permanent captain. Look at how he rallied Liverpool to Champions League victory in 2005, contrast that to Terry crying on the pitch in front of the whole world in 2008, enough said as far as the spirit of English football is concerned.

----------------------------------

I agree that Terry is a lousy captain. I met a team of kids and their coach who had the opportunity to train with Terry and he was fantastic apparently - a really top bloke who went out of his way for them - but in an England shirt he doesn't have any impact and his on the pitch conduct leaves a lot to be desired.

However, I can't say much better for Gerrard. Against Milan he was outstanding, but the key difference is he was wearing a Liverpool shirt at the time. In the Club v Country dilemma Gerrard's firmly in the club camp. Just read his post-match interviews after we failed to qualify for evidence. England fans were distraught, players cried, but for Gerrard it was "a bit of a disappointment". Stirring stuff.

I've often read that Gerrard's performances for England depend on Liverpool's upcoming fixtures. Champion's League fixtures often follow international matches, which isn't ideal for anyone. On those occasions Gerrard needn't bother turning up let alone wear the arm band.

As for him playing all over the pitch - well, why was there such a fuss when he was playing four foot to the left of where he's been playing for Liverpool? When Lampard was out Gerrard had full reign of the midfield with Barry along side for several key qualifying games and he still failed to produce a performance. He's had ample opportunity to impose himself on the international front the way Liverpool fans insist he is capable of, but that Milan game was two tournaments ago and we're still waiting.

Knowing the wacky way these things go sometimes, we'll probably get a 0-0 draw at Andorra, journos will practically have Capello roasting on a spit already, then go and win at Croatia.

I haven't watched England play since we capitulated against Portugal in the last World Cup. So far, no regrets - I can thankfully say I never watched a single minute of England under McClaren. Our national team is a joke made up of overpayed prima donna's who seem unable to cope with the weight of expectation placed upon them by the national fans.

I don't feel that Englands recent performances have anything to do with pride, passion, salaries or clash of ego's. We witnessed individuals against the Czech Rep trying too hard to close down the opposition and as a result leave gaping holes behind them in midfield. We're not working as a unit and I believe there's an inbalance in the team. We currently seem to have a team of similar players (especially centre mid) when we could do with some dribblers / wingers who could stretch play and create more. Ashley Young is two footed, can play up front or on either wing. I think Joe Cole along with Hargreaves has been Englands most important players over recent years because of their ability to retain the ball.

Can I change my post to a combination of truevillian's, samplatt's and Arsenal 2008/09's comments? I have said the same thing on many other threads and got a bit tired of it when met with "but we have world class players who only need to be shown the way". What utter drivel.

And Arsenal 2008/09 - the ironic thing is none of the midfielders picked (Cole - Lampard - Gerrard - Beckham) really suit a 4-4-2. Ideally you would have 2 pacey widemen with a great cross and superb close control. The CMs would have an impeccable long and short passing game, strong in the tackle, excellent vision and awareness and chip in with the goals.

Only Joe Cole comes close to ticking all the required boxes. Rooney also plays too loosely and too far back to play in the 2 - it leaves us pumping balls up to his striking partner whilst he's arguing with the linesman by our left hand corner flag. Unless he changes his positional awareness he needs to go - give Ashton and Agbonlahor a go.

What are your thoughts on the England captaincy Mr McNulty??

"Capello, however, knows little about our English players, about the English mentality etc"
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I'm guessing "English mentality" means one of three things;

1) Their mentality towards games - "up and at them", pace without patience, harrying. It might work once in a blue moon (Munich away, vs Holland in '96) - but by and large, it doesn't work.

2) The arrogant and misplaced belief that we'll win due to having self-proclaimed World class players - see Michael Owen's comments before the Croatia game.

3) Just not really caring about England, as opposed to club games - see Carragher's recent comments.

So Capello doesn't know the "English mentaility"? Who cares - it's not doing us any favours. I really hope he can change it, not accept it.

Two thoughts. First: Why when England were ranked No8 in the world and reached a world cup 1/4 final ie the last 8 was this deemed a failure so bad that it leads to sacking the manager. This always struck me as being the proper position. Then a little bit of luck with injuries or penalty shoot outs (as IF !) and we might have been in the semis.

Second: Are England the Newcastle of the international scene. Always hyped up as popular with other fans, told by the media that they are good when they are pretty ordinary really, over paid, winning nothing for 50 years, sacking managers too often, lacking proper direction in the board room. Sound familiar!

H-O-N-E-Y-M-O-O-N !!!!!

Can anyone really believe that we have an England manager that can barely string two words of English together, has already indicated that this will be his last job in football before retiring, was confused about Gerrard's position on the field of play against the 'friendly' Czech's, retains an out of sorts David Beckham who is past his sell by date, insists on keeping 'calamity' james in goal who went walk-about in the last game and has let England slip to 15 in the FIFA rankings?

A Sunday league 'Pub Team' would be better representing our National side........

Two thumbs up to the FA on this one

We have enough players in this country to deliver a first class 11, after that, maybe not.

In my opinion, it's all in the mind. Use the force!

This debate has been done to death.

Being a proud Welshman I just dream of having the pool of players England has to choose from - and being a supporter of British football I want all the British countries to do well...I just don't lose any sleep if England for example, don't.

My point is that England have some of the top players in the world in the positions they are in. Yet they are sadly lacking in other areas and until this is addressed I feel they will always come unstuck.

Not qualifying for Euro 2008 was a disaster as they should've walked the group. They too should walk this World Cup group in truth - you can't tell me Croatia are THAT superior, they clearly are not, but they have a work ethic and a formation that works for them.

England need to find some of the same - and I think they will. They have a World Class manager, and providing they all work as a unit then they will qualify through the group.

I also hope Capello doesn't revert to picking square pegs in round holes - if he chooses a formation that means some of his stars miss out then so be it.

You can't tell me Brazil, Argentina, France, Italy, Germany etc..only have 1 star player for 1 position - they don't.

The manager picks who he thinks will do a job and leave the others on the bench.

Pick a balanced 11 - show some fighting spirit, play with your heads and you will qualify.

Wales on the other hand - if we finish 3rd behind Russia and Germany, I will be over the moon - that's not pessimistic, that's being realistic!!!

I am sick and tired of people having a go at Sven-Goran Eriksson. In what way has he failed? He took England to the WC Quarter-Final which is a fantastic achievement for such a mediocre team. Anything less than that in WC 2010 and we can safely say Capello has not achieved anything near what Sven has.

"Second: Are England the Newcastle of the international scene. Always hyped up as popular with other fans, told by the media that they are good when they are pretty ordinary really, over paid, winning nothing for 50 years, sacking managers too often, lacking proper direction in the board room. Sound familiar!"

Nice analogy - add to that the analogy that we are 15th in the rankings and Sunderland finished 15th last season - hey presto...we are Tyneside!

i'm not sure if i agree with this theory that Capello either delivers or he's no different to Sven. can't we accept the fact that, rather than blame the coach, these players are really not as good as they're made out to be. i will take a stance here and say England only have 3 world class players right now - Gerrard, Rio and Owen. these guys are indispensable to their clubs, especially the first two, and i can't say the same for the rest of the squad. we need to stop calling them the Golden Generation, because they're not. that term is reserved for teams that really sweep all before them, like the French team in the late 1990s or the latest group of Spanish players. even the German team of recent years have reached more semis than England, yet people say they're the worst group of German players ever!
let's stop kidding ourselves with all the hype and accept the fact that England does not have a god-given right of being at major tournaments all the time.

I was watching England vs Holland (Euro '96) on ESPN Classics the other night. Watching Shearer and Sheringham on fire was an awesome sight to behold. You could see on the players faces it meant a lot, the passion in their eyes (especially psycho.) I don't seem to see that anymore and I certainly don't get that tingle down my spine like I used to.

Re: Expectation.

Is it true that England has 'average' (albeit overpaid) players and that mere qualification for a major tournament should be our aim? Several people suggest this, but I don't think its true.

Three out of four teams in this season CL semis were English, boasting England international down their spine. Terry and Rio both colossal at the back against the best strikers in the world, and C-ashley Cole marking QUALITY wingers out of games. Gerrard running games with his drive, determination and vision, Lampard and Joe Cole getting forward to deliver goals and a threat from midfield, Rooney up front, a CL winner at 21 years of age and former European young player of the year.

Englands spine is top quality. They perhaps lack a top class keeper, second striker (unless you count Owen, scorer of 40 international goals at a rate of one goal every two games - where is he this weekend?), and a decent wide man, although I'd argue that SWP or Bentley can provide good options on the right, with JCole on the left, and that Micah Richards has shown more than enough ability at right back to provide an eventual replacement to the solid reliability that is Gary Neville.

On club form, we should expect to get to the later stages of tournaments along with the Spanish and Italian and French who also populate these most successful of European club sides.

Yet we don't. Discuss.

No I am not winding you up Phil and as much as it does pain me (as a Liverpool fan) to say this but no i dont think that Gerrard is the man for the job.

Maybe Rio or Gareth Barry.

Phil

"The first serious questions were raised about Capello's methods after that shapeless, muddled display - and with full justification."

You full of rubbish sunshine. Cappello's methods are proven all accross europe. its the players he has that need questioning and booting.

Thats the worst comment I have ever read form a pundit, it is on a par with "you win nothing with kids" ......

I got about 4 paragraphs down this blog, then, after laughing at loud on quite a few occasions, had to stop.

You call the italian a ruthless seeker of results. I agree. Yet you then say he was rightly critised for the 2-2 draw against a very very good Czech team?! The Result? A draw...a rather decent result infact however this STILL is good enough for you? So therefore being a ruthless seeker of results is not enough for some people.

Then you go onto Svens campaign. I've honestly not spoke to one single person who didn't enjoy Svens tenure. Not only did he get us to every major tournemount he got us to the quarters of them. To be beaten by Brazil....lose on Pens.....and go out after having ten men on the pitch for half a match. So where do you get off critising him??

The stuff thats published through the media and supossed to representive therefore couldn't be further from the mark.

Because the media don't like reporting the news. They like to and create it.

Fairly obvious blog, Phil, but still a good discussion to have

We will beat Andorra, that's a given - if we don't i believe that will be their first point in a few decades - we could field Cambridge U's and still take 3 points

As for Croatia, true this will be his first real test - and no Gerrard or Owen

but i do believe Capello will have been working out everything over the last 9 months pretty much for this one game, it's competitive, what people have to remember that under Sven we actually had a fine record in competitive matches, even tho the friendlies were constantly awful, except against really big sides like Argentina when the players actually had something to prove - and capello is from what i've seen, sven mark-2

so I will judge Capello on wednesday, his choice of team against the Czech rep knocked my confidence in him somewhat, but he can't do it against Croatia because Gerrard is injured, so that's still going to stay in my mind until he's fit - but a solid draw or even a win on weds night and the memories of mac will be laid to rest

im surpised noone has asked for KK to come back as England Manager?

Rich Owl - a few years ago I would have believed you, and I want to, but England have just performed so badly with the players you mention for so long. What you fail to mention is the foreign players in the respective teams. For Chelsea you could say the spine/key players are Cech, Essien/Makelele, Ballack and Drogba, for United: Van Der Sar, Vidic, Scholes (yes, I know ,a retired Englishman), Ronaldo and Tevez.

I believe, and many others agree, that we think the English players are World Class because they play with the best of international talent. However, what happens when you take these international players away? You get the team who couldn't qualify for Euro 2008, the team who bored the world to tears at WC06, scraping 1-0 wins against Paraguay and Ecuador. That's right, you get England.

Until we see a decent performance from England, and not Chelsea and Man United reaching the CL Final again, I don't understand how anyone can claim England are a good team.

I'm sure the media will go bananas at Capello if he doesn't oversee a 10 nil thrashing in Zagreb - one of the strongest fortresses in football, Croatia never lose there.

I won't. I just want to see an England performance with some passion and class. If we are losing to go down guns blazing. It seems totally beyond this so called team with or without Capello, the coach has never been the problem.

Posters numer 1, 3, and 5, have hit the nail on the head. England's once mighty football team is now a faint memory in the past. The only way that English footballcan return to its past glory is to field a team of foreigners who are presently making the English Presmiership the best league in the world, 'cause it aint the english players that are great, it's the foreigners. Bring back the old English League v Any Other League matches and England will rule again. Until then...dream on England.