Capello - Group is not easy

England coach not getting carried away by first-round draw

Last updated: 5th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Capello - Group is not easy

Capello: Treating opponents with respect

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Fabio Capello insists England must treat their World Cup finals opponents with respect following the draw for next summer's tournament in South Africa.

Friday's draw pitted England against USA, Algeria and Slovenia in Group C, with Capello's men avoiding a feared 'Group of Death'.

However, despite the fans' expectations of an easy passage through to the last 16, Capello is not taking anything for granted.

"I know two of the teams, we've played friendly games against the USA and Slovenia," Capello told Sky Sports News.

"People will think it's easy, but I think you have to respect all the teams.

"From my experience as a player when you have to play here it's a different pressure and a different mentality. I repeat, we have to respect the teams we have to play against."

Relaxed

England's first game of the tournament will be on Saturday 12th June against USA in Rustenburg and Capello is keen to start on a winning note.

He added: "The first game that we will play will be most difficult, but if you win the first game, the second game you play more relaxed as you know you don't need the points to qualify.

"For this reason, this is a really good moment to understand that the games that we have to play here will not be easy.

"I hope the players will stay with us, we will prepare well mentally to play this game."

England are expected to be based near Rustenburg before travelling to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth for their second and third games in the group.

Capello continued: "We play the first game and it will probably be good for us not to have to move to Rustenburg.

"We go to another city afterwards when we will play at sea level for the next two matches, one in Cape Town, the second one in Port Elizabeth.

"I have spoken with people who live here and it's really difficult."