Fabio Capello and his One Figured Salute to his Doubters

This past Wednesday the 10^th of September, I walked in to the sandwich bar to order my lunch. Whilst I waited for my later-to-be-regretted sandwich choice, a headline on the back of our country’s biggest selling red-top newspaper claimed that defeat for the English National Football team in Croatia would end their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. My first thought was at how ridiculous that statement was considering there are 10 matches to be played in the group and a defeat in only your 2^nd game, although a blow certainly does not mean elimination.

These statements of course were coming off the back of England’s 2-0 victory over Andorra the previous Saturday, which brings me to my first point. The fact of the matter was that England had won against Andorra, they had dominated possession (79%-21%), conceded only 1 corner and David James in the England goal only appeared to touch the ball with goal kicks from hopeless Andorran set pieces. Yes, it was frustrating to watch and yes, you’d expect maybe a bigger result over a team made up of mechanics, teachers and National FA board members. However, England’s determination to get a result coupled with Capello’s inspired decision to replace Stewart Downing with Joe Cole got them the result their play ultimately deserved.

Criticism followed, mainly aimed at the most decorated Manager England have ever had. The thing that people seem to forget about football is that a win is a win regardless of how it is achieved. I remember watching Manchester United play Derby at Pride Park last season, United were heading for their 2^ndstraight league title and Derby were on course to achieving the English Premier League’s lowest ever points total. The result: Derby 0-1 Manchester United. United dominated the game and ultimately got the result they deserved. The fact of the matter was that Derby packed their own penalty box with all but one of their players, something which the league’s most entertaining and attacking teams, United and Arsenal, are becoming increasingly faced with. No matter how talented, skilful or determined you are, trying to get through 10 players is by no means an easy feat to achieve. The most important stat at the end of the day is the score line, something the British press and certain television channels (specifically one that no longer has rights to any live football) seem to have forgotten in years gone by.

The mood from the media was one of doom and gloom, it’s as if they want England to fail so they can whine and sell papers to waiver the views of the public. Watching England outclass an over-rated Croatian side in Zagreb was one of the finest sights I have witnessed in football. I’ve always felt that England have never fulfilled potential, however I have never been one to continually criticize the team and try to find the root of the problem, it seems as though Fabio Capello has found it. England are a team and the best players for the team on the day, for that game will be picked.

The Italian has already stamped his authority. In Andorra, he favoured the technical ability of Glen Johnson over Wes Brown’s more combative qualities because that is what was required for that game. Brown was of course restored for the tougher, more physical game against Croatia. Against Andorra, Capello also opted for Stewart Downing over Joe Cole, although this did not work out as he’d hoped, the reasons for Downing’s inclusion were his dead ball skills and ability to pick out a world class delivery against a team packed in to its own penalty box. Unfortunately, this, as with Jermain Defoe, failed to materialise, both players were replaced at half time by Emile Heskey and the previously mentioned Joe Cole, with both players changing the game as Cole bagged a brace.

After the 2 goal cushion was achieved, England coasted through the remainder of the game as the win was in the bag and they clearly had the Croatia game on their minds. After all, why waste the energy required four days before much more challenging opposition?

Wednesday night and Capello brings in Heskey, Cole and Brown in a tactical masterstroke. Wayne Rooney looked as confident and good as ever behind the target man Heskey, creating the space needed for young Theo Walcott to impose himself on the game. Walcott put in his best performance on a football pitch on Wednesday night only beating Rooney to the Man of the Match award because of his hat-trick.

It was fantastic to see England passing the ball on the ground, seeing England players wanting the ball and seeing them play the kind of football we always knew they were capable of. Cue the contrast in mood and opinion in Thursday morning’s newspapers. Suddenly England are going to win a World Cup they were touted as being eliminated from only the day before. Unfortunately, this is the way the press are and hyping up a brilliant England performance is only going to sell more papers, which is ultimately what their business is.

There was of course one resounding point they were more than happy to point out: “The end of David Beckham’s International Career.” Beckham has been England’s most influential player over the last decade and the treatment he has received in that time has been truly shambolic. The sheer mental strength and determination Beckham has shown in his career is something to be admired and you have to respect him for what he has achieved because he has been more than entitled to walk away from the unnecessary abuse he has taken in an England shirt. One thing is for sure, Beckham’s England career is not over. Yes, Theo Walcott was outstanding in both games last week; however, he is the only player to have shown the potential to replace Beckham. If Walcott is unavailable, Beckham is playing, simple as. As I have previously stated, Capello will not pick a team based on the best players, he will pick the best players for the team. If he feels Beckham is the right man for a game, then Beckham will play.

Even in Capello’s second game in charge, the 1-0 defeat against France, England showed glimpses of what was coming despite the loss. In that game, they passed the ball on the ground and looked like a team that could challenge the best in the world when the right parts are tweaked. From the start, I have backed Capello’s appointment and feel he is starting to build a team and atmosphere it needs. He, like Beckham, has already endured unnecessary abuse and criticism in his short time with the team.

Wednesday night was simply a one figured salute to all those doubters out there and the signs are that England, although still a work in progress, are on the up. As long as they are winning games, we should have nothing to complain about. At the end of the day, all I want to see is England playing in South Africa in 2010. After all, it’s better to play to win than to play beautiful football and fall short. Just ask Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.