GROUP G:England v Bulgaria: MANAGERS ARE disinclined to reminisce about their failures, but Fabio Capello was briefly an exception. He referred to the troubles of days gone by as he prepared for tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier with Bulgaria at Wembley. The Italian is well-acquainted with rejection, but is also practised in restoring his reputation.
His mind turned to the enforced departures in second stints with Milan and Real Madrid. He is not the type to spare time for self-deprecation and Capello’s real intent was to show that setbacks had not broken his career. In view of the €6 million salary with England, it is difficult to dispute the durability of his worth in the marketplace.
A certain allure remains even after the hobbling efforts of his team at the World Cup. It was largely the players who were castigated by fans and, with tickets on sale at the ground this evening, an attendance of around 75,000 is expected. The 64-year-old does not behave like a person who supposes he is running out of time.
Capello would like people to believe the criticisms bore him more than irk him, but he is very ineffective in concealing his resentment of doubters.
“We lost one game in the World Cup, against Germany,” he said, “after one big mistake for the referee (when the officials did not see that Frank Lampard’s drive had crossed the line). After this, your opinion about me changed completely.”
Capello was on the brink of a whinge about a match in which his side also happened to be outclassed. While a serious error occurred in the Germany tie, England’s shortcomings were ever-present and perhaps embodied most of all in the brainless 0-0 draw with Algeria. That will have been the kind of occasion the authors of Fifa’s newly issued report on the World Cup had in mind when they noted the suffering of teams who could not alter their tactics. The England manager is still defiant, however, of those who scorn his stewardship.
There has been no semblance of regret about decisions taken at the World Cup itself, although, on reflection, he feels that the squad should have had a fortnight’s break at the close of the Premier League season. In essence, Capello’s desire is not merely to succeed with England but to do so by sticking to his usual methods.
“I live,” he exclaimed. “Sorry.” Capello has disdain, too, for the kind of analysis found in that Fifa document. “Teams play 9-1,” he said in some exasperation. “Where is the different style? Is there a difference between 4-4-2, 4-5-1 or 9-1? One forward, nine defenders.”
In his own case, this refers to the fact Wayne Rooney will naturally drift into deeper positions on occasion tonight, leaving Jermain Defoe as the lone attacker. There is ultimately a sterile tone to a debate that depends only on the abstractions of the drawing board.
The principal concern for England lies not in any outmoded thinking on the manager’s part as in the restrictions that are beyond his control. There is no effervescent generation on the verge of constituting a bold new line-up. As it is, Capello can think himself lucky he has a fit 21-year-old Theo Walcott to reinstate. The manager should be relieved, as well, at the pair of excellent goals from Steven Gerrard in the friendly with Hungary that confirmed there is still explosiveness in the captain.
With no means to bring about a true revolution, England’s immediate aim must be to settle back into an effective routine. Tuesday’s match in Switzerland will be a trial, but it is tonight’s opponents at Wembley that have far more to fear than England. Bulgaria have not qualified for the finals of a tournament since Euro 2004.
Guardian Service
