Capello praise for Wayne

Walcott ankle injury not thought to be serious despite hospital visit

Last updated: 8th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

This game was very important to win, but we played really, really well. I was really happy after the first half.

Fabio Capello
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Fabio Capello was delighted with the manner in which Wayne Rooney dealt with the pressure of his off-field problems during England's victory over Switzerland.

The striker has come under intense scrutiny following allegations about his private life in the weekend newspapers and it was speculated that he might not play in Basel.

England boss Capello is understood to have closely monitored Rooney's psychological condition ahead of England's second Euro 2012 qualifier before deciding to name the Manchester United star in his first XI.

The 24-year-old swept aside suggestions that he was not mentally fit to play by scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 victory in Switzerland to leave England, who brushed past Bulgaria last Friday, top of qualifying Group G.

Strong

And an upbeat Capello was suitably impressed, as he told Sky Sports 2: "I think he played well. He was always at the centre of the play, the centre of the movement.

"I think the pressure was really strong on him, but he played very well."

Capello was under the spotlight himself, with the trip to Switzerland acknowledged as England's toughest test in a relatively kind qualifying group that also contains Wales and Montenegro.

The outing was the Three Lions' first real examination since the World Cup debacle this summer, when Germany administered a stark reality check in the last 16 in South Africa.

Capello went from hero to zero in Bloemfontein and has since been criticised for his limited grasp of the English language and a seemingly stubborn refusal to budge from a rigid 4-4-2 formation.

Fantastic

But the Italian's side passed their Swiss test courtesy of further goals from substitutes Adam Johnson, and Darren Bent, while their hosts, who had Stephan Lichtsteiner sent off, had only mustered a hint of a comeback when Xherdan Shaqiri made it 2-1.

Capello said: "I think we played, in the first half, fantastic football.

"This game was very important to win, but we played really, really well. I was really happy after the first half.

"The second half we probably played too slow, and I think after the second goal and [the sending off] it was more easier."

An injury to Theo Walcott was one of the only blemishes for England, with the Arsenal winger stretched off after twisting an ankle in the build-up to Rooney's goal.

The 21-year-old was taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray, but Capello hinted that it is not a serious problem.

He said: "It's a little problem or not so big problem."

Comments (13)

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David Wright (Sunderland fan) says...

For a start well done England!!!!! 2 games 2 wins!!!!!! Who cares less what anyone does off the field as long as they perform on it!! Well done Darren Bent and Adam Johnston shame you wernt at the World Cup!!!!!!

Posted 10:20 8th September 2010

Darren Shaw (Everton fan) says...

Terry got abuse... ... And lost the skippers arm band under Capello for this reason and his form at the time was sublime!! A sub standard Rooney gets a pat on the back by Capello and to be honest... If i had the skill that young boy (not man) has in his feet my families future would be everything they can dream, instead the lord god works in mysterious ways and gives this Shrek look alike a gift like this. All it boils down to is our belief of tabloid propaganda and how much they want to wreck a persons life. Why is Sir Shrek so great! Well done England

Posted 09:59 8th September 2010

Frank(evertonian) Robinson says...

We gave them stick for a poor World Cup and I gave my view we we knackered before we landed in South Africa. This was another fresh performance from fresh players.Don`t knock it you lot and don`t compare Rooney to JT. He wasn`t knocking off another mates missues!

Posted 09:52 8th September 2010

Andy Polson (Maidenhead United fan) says...

was rooney the only one playing last night ? I could pick better players on the field than him, spoilt brat. and what no boos J Terry got it for same reason

Posted 08:51 8th September 2010

Ron Bennett (Newcastle United fan) says...

lets not get carried away and wait till we meet some of the bigger teams like the mighty montenegro

Posted 08:31 8th September 2010

Andy Reid says...

Two games in and already champions, just like the world cup. Have I missed all the calls to have Rooney dropped from the national side as he is a bad role model for the kids as we had with Terry and Cole or did you all think that you could afford to drop them and still win the world cup ?

Posted 08:08 8th September 2010

Gordon Mcintyre (Manchester United fan) says...

@ Darren Green......England Euro champs 2012 c''mon lad you''re havin'' a laugh surely!! if you think after a meadiocre display against a poor Switzerland that England suddenly will win the euro''s your highly dillusional!! Capello''s unwillingness to budge from that dreadful, dated and inept 4-4-2 will stop england from winning anything, you cant play 2 central midfielders against spain, germany etc, the only way you will get away with it is with plenty of movement and a hugh slice of luck as yous are also very poor in possession, i think Capello will discipline everyplayer that drifted into space lastnight such is his riggid-i-sity

Posted 07:12 8th September 2010

Chris Hurved (Chelsea fan) says...

i personally feel England played very well . they have so far coped with the extreme media pressure on them thats been there since the world cup . one thing i would like to address though is England do have the potential of winning things .........its the media that lose it for England not the team ..... if the media were to back off and let them do what they do best (play football) then we may see our first trophey coming soon ... but hey ! no chance of the media doing that .. !!!!!!!!!!

Posted 06:34 8th September 2010

Brian Croft says...

Excellent performance, England are now worth watching. What worries me is that Capello condemned Terry by taking away the captaincy, yet not one word of condemnation from him about Rooney, double standards?

Posted 06:19 8th September 2010

Darren Umbridge (Swindon Town fan) says...

i am disgusted by this whole episode. john terry was slated by both the media and the england boss, along with being stript of his captaincy. and that was for sleeping with someone whilst married. which i am completely against, by the way. However, wayne rooney sleeps with a hooker whilst his wife is pregnant and he gets praised for how he has played. i would also like to point out that John Terry scored on his next england performance also, what recognition did he get. capello hasn''t even disciplined rooney. because rooney is the future of english football he gets favourtism.

Posted 02:22 8th September 2010

Mark Lodge (Chesterfield fan) says...

Yeah amazin until they have to perform in the finals of a big tournament!

Posted 00:25 8th September 2010

Gary Ansell (Chelsea fan) says...

See this is the usual problem we have, England have a good game or 2 against a couple of teams hardly even worthy of a tournament and we get the bandwagon thinking its already a guaranteed trophy we''ll be holding at the end of it!! Seriously go easy on the team ourselves and our media and we have a lot higher chance of going all the way or at least reaching the semi''s!!

Posted 00:11 8th September 2010

Darren Green (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...

england were amazing!!!! euro 2012 champions coming up!!!

Posted 23:14 7th September 2010
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