Capello - Spirit is back

Italian boss to use Croatia win as springboard for success

Last updated: 6th October 2008

Fabio Capello England head coach

Capello: Spirit back

Victory was important, because we had lost the English spirit, our aggressiveness, the boldness, our confidence.

Capello on Croatia win
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Fabio Capello believes England's spirit has returned following their emphatic 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Croatia.

England endured a miserable summer after watching the European Championship from back home following failure to qualify for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

The Three Lions' attempts to qualify for Euro 2008 were hindered by two defeats to Croatia and Capello believes the painful losses are now forgotten following their win in Zagreb last month.

"I hope we have finally knocked the monkey off our back," he told Uefa's official website.

Spirit

"Victory was important, because we had lost the English spirit, our aggressiveness, the boldness, our confidence.

"After failing to qualify for the European Championship we were full of fear, notably when we played at Wembley. I knew we would play better abroad and we did."

Theo Walcott was England's stand-out performer against Croatia with a blistering hat-trick and Capello felt before the kick-off the Arsenal man would have a big game.

The former Southampton player is yet to replicate that sort of form regularly at club level, but the Italian is expected to give Walcott the nod for their upcoming games against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Faith

"When I put my faith in Walcott, I had the sensation and the belief he could give me that little bit extra, but he honestly gave much, much more than even I expected," he continued.

"I think it depends on the coach's qualities to understand when the moment to field a youngster has come.

"As it is far more difficult to play in the national team, you can only rely on a youngster if he is really good, and not just playing quite well with his club. You play one match and you are judged on it for a month and a half.

"The same goes for the coach. If you don't win a match in which you fielded a youngster they wonder why you didn't choose someone more experienced.

"It's really important for a young player to gain experience, but the world-class ones emerge rapidly."