England need goals and steel against Andorra and Croatia

Tomorrow evening, Fabio Capello will take charge of his first competitive match as England manager. Minnows Andorra should hold no fear for him or his players, but Capello needs to be aware that nothing less than a goal-fest will suffice.

In March of last year England laboured to a 3-0 win in the same fixture, away in Barcelona, booed off by their traveling support at half-time. They had not scored and against a side made up of primarily part-time players, this was not good enough.

Therefore, for those who are making the trip this time, the memory of those unhappy jeers should be fresh in the memory.

For Capello, this match represents an opportunity for him and his team to make a statement of intent. If England can go in at half time with three goals to their name and add a few more in the second half, it won't make the rest of the football world shudder.

What it will signify though, is that here is a group of players with belief and a confidence. Given the talent there is in the England team, that might worry a few sides in the qualification group. For Capello, who's reign has got of to the most inauspicious of starts, a win is the first priority.

To win with style would go some way to getting the press on his side, and the fans off his back. The common consensus is that little has changed since the last regime, and now the time for experimentation is over. Andorra may be the next opponents, but three point are at stake nonetheless.

England will then travel to Zagreb for the first real test of Capello's campaign, against Croatia. A 2-0 defeat in Croatia, and the 3-2 loss at Wembley that saw the demise of Steve McClaren and England's chances of qualification for Euro 2008, will be fresh in the minds of the nation.

A win would have a cathartic effect for both players and supporters. Only a fool would believe this will be easily achieved. As the games against England and the Croat's performances in Euro 2008 demonstrated, Capello's men will face a very well organised, inventive, and hard working team.

Players such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are able to unlock defences with a run or pass and in Ivica Olic and Ivan Klasnic, two strikers able to finish off the chances created for them. England needs to come away from Zagreb with a win. A draw will not suffice, and could be a result that is later reflected on if qualification is not attained.

Ball retention will be key, as Croatia keeps the ball well, and will look to drag players out of position at every opportunity. Given England's profligate nature when in  possession, this could prove critical, and the likes of Beckham have a responsibility to use the ball wisely.

If England can have a night where they click as a team, play for each other as opposed to just for themselves and maybe score a couple of goals, they will win. On paper, England have better players than Croatia - they need to believe that. Croatia manager Slaven Bilic is a master at motivation, and will have his players worked up and ready for the match.

Capello needs to match that. If he sends his players on the pitch in Zagreb doubting their ability to win the match, in front of a partisan and hostile crowd, they might just freeze. That is Capello's real test.  If he can get that right, England might be basking in the warm glow of maximum points from  their opening two games by the time the final whistle blows against Croatia. If he fails? An uphill task awaits him, both on and off the pitch.