Capello needs to inspire England again

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Written by James Beckett Saturday, 19 June 2010 13:14

The date was the 26th of March 2008, and England have just suffered a 1-0 defeat away to France. It was Fabio Capello's first defeat as England manager in only his second game in charge, but despite the loss the Italian was happy. He said: “I told my players, you played well for 45 minutes, if you can play well for 45 minutes then you can play well for 90 minutes.”

This was just months after England had epically failed to qualify for Euro 2008, and the so called superstars at club level, were almost hypnotised with fear when the pulled on an England shirt. But after that game, the fear faded away, and England saw a drastic improvement in not only results, but performances too. But after England's successive draws at this summer's World Cup, has the fear returned? fabio capello

Capello himself admits he has been left bemused by England's mundane displays saying: “ These aren't the players I saw in qualifying or the players I see in training.” This was a regular line used by former England managers to explain their misfiring side.

The Italian needs to get his players performing like they did in qualifying, playing without fear and playing with freedom. Given time, I have no doubt that he can do that, but whether he can do this before England take on Slovenia on Wednesdays a completely different question.

The ability is there, and it so frustrating when people say England haven't got the players, because we evidently have players who have immense quality, it is purely a mental issue at why they aren't performing at the moment.

But Capello has managed to turn around England's displays before, and I have no doubt that he can do it again. I think he needs to spend a lot of time with the players and try and ease the pressure that inevitably comes with tournament football.

The Slovenia game is by far Capello's biggest game in charge of England, and if Capello can get his big game players to stand up, I have no doubt we will win and make it in to the last 16. We are in similar situation to what we were in after the France game. Capello knows his players can perform for England, he just needs to convince his players that they can.