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Fabio reveals Wembley woe
Capello admits England confidence is low at home
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 10th September 2008
Capello: Wembley worries
I think when England play at home at the moment, they are playing without confidence. I prefer to play away from England at this moment.
Fabio Capello.
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Fabio Capello has admitted England are suffering from a crisis of confidence when they play at Wembley.
Capello's men tackle Croatia in Zagreb on Wednesday night in what is expected to be the toughest test of their Group Six campaign.
Slaven Bilic's side beat England home and away during Steve McClaren's hapless reign as the Three Lions failed to reach the Euro 2008 finals.
Capello's side have begun their bid to reach South Africa in 2010 with two away fixtures, defeating Andorra 2-0 on in Barcelona on Saturday ahead of Wednesday night's game.
England were booed off at half-time against Andorra by the travelling fans, and were also jeered by their own supporters at Wembley during the disjointed 2-2 friendly draw against Czech Republic in August.
The Italian feels that his players have been far from their best on home turf and is happy that they are not in action in front of their own supporters.
Confidence
Capello told Sky Sports News: "Croatia are a very strong team at home, but we have to play with confidence and without fear, because it is a very important game for us, it is a big game for the future.
"We know that Croatia never lose at home. I think when England play at home at the moment, they are playing without confidence.
"I prefer to play away from England at this moment and I'm sure that the players will play well away from home.
"The fans are very important for us but we have to play better and we have to win so that they will follow us."
England's last trip to Croatia ended in a miserable 2-0 defeat when they barely mustered a shot on goal as McClaren's tactical tinkering failed spectacularly.
Capello has urged his side to put that fixture out of their minds and look to the future under his new regime.
He added: "I know what has happened in the past but I always think about the future. This is a new game, a new season. The players know you have to not think about the last game. You have to focus on this game. It is a different game, a different team and a different manager.
"You have to play with courage. I have confidence in my team. I think we have played every game better and with more confidence.
"I know Croatia, all their strong points and weak points and I think tomorrow we will play well and try to win. It is impossible to play here with fear. We will try for a positive result.
"I have never in my career played for the draw, never. My idea is always to play to try to win, always."
Ferdinand fit
The England boss confirmed that Rio Ferdinand is fit to start the match alongside Terry in central defence after recovering from the neck injury which kept him out against Andorra.
There has been much speculation as to the line-up Capello will select after he omitted David Beckham, Joe Cole and Emile Heskey on Saturday, although the latter two made a significant impact when brought on at half-time, and the Italian was giving little away.
He said: "Rio is fit, no-one is injured. It is a very important game for us. I will decide on experience or the younger players.
"This game for me has always been exciting. I prefer this game to the one against Andorra. It is a tough game and you play against different players, different managers and the atmosphere is very exciting."
- Video
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 19th November | |
| International Match | |
| Germany 1 - 2 England | |
| Wednesday 15th October | |
| FIFA World Cup European Qualifying | |
| Belarus 1 - 3 England | |
| Saturday 11th October | |
| FIFA World Cup European Qualifying | |
| England 5 - 1 Kazakhstan | |
| Wednesday 10th September | |
| FIFA World Cup European Qualifying | |
| Croatia 1 - 4 England | |
| Saturday 6th September | |
| FIFA World Cup European Qualifying | |
| Andorra 0 - 2 England | |
| Wednesday 20th August | |
| International Match | |
| England 2 - 2 Czech Republic | |
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Comments
Alan Taylor says...
Let me pose a question? If there was a world cup that was competed between NOT the national teams but the national leagues, who do you think would win? Yes! The english premiership of course! Why? Because we have the best players in the world. Problem is, they are NOT english! The FA wonder why we do not have success at national level. Does it take an old armchair fan like me to tell these overpaid prima donnas what they are doing wrong.
Posted 08:59 10th September 2008
Lee Harris says...
The problem with the English team is the team itself. It's that simple - they don't know how to win without worrying about losing. They also don't know how to play a team (the team is also the management) while putting out the best team comprised of the players that are on hand. It's about time that the national team was treated like a club team - choose the players that are best in the positions that need to be filled - not the other way around. If you don't have a player playing in their best position why play them - conversely just because you have a good player on hand why play them out of position? The national team is supposed to be about bringing the best players together in their respective positions and then forming a team with those players. It has been too long a time that the English national team play's players out of position or because they are a fans favourite. That's how you get bad politicians running the country - football is not politics its sport - would you put a long distance runner in the 100 meters? unless you are trying to get the world record for the slowest athelete. Remember Barnes? Remember how good he was for club but crapp for country - how long did it take for him to be dropped? too long - same with some of the players in the national team. I'm not a chelsea fan (Gooners all the way) but why is Joe Cole left on the bench when he is consistently a better player than most on the field (even if he is on the bench) why? Not just because of his skill but because he plays where he should. Stop playing Gerrard out of position - dump Lampard he just doesn't have the temperment for international football - (or the skill or pace to be honest). These are just bad examples of team building - maybe Capello should take these guys out for a bout of paint ball - maybe that will build the team because of right now - he has much clue as McClaren and the same amount of Kahunas (footballs for the lamen)
Posted 07:10 10th September 2008
Alex Crosby (Fulham fan) says...
Alex Boss is right... ticket prices are ridiculous, which is keeping the working class away. I don't necessarily know if this is the problem for England at home, as it's not any cheaper to go abroad and watch England play. I don't think England are scared to play at Wembley because a lack of atmosphere, but because of the pressure of doing well at home. It should be a fortress. England need to turn it around with some decent results at home. Enough friendlies against Germany and Brazil it's only doing our confidence harm.
Posted 05:40 10th September 2008
Tony L (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I agree with Fabio because when England play at home I wish i was away from home. Lets face it guys we are not as good as we think we are. We really dont have the passion. If we had half the passion of the Scots I am sure we could compete. The England team is made up of players playing for themselves and not a team. Oh and while i'm at it lets thank the FA for giving the internationals to Sentana, (who i though were a rock band). what happened to football for football fans???????
Posted 05:22 10th September 2008
Don Carr (Leeds United fan) says...
The pathetic fans of " English Football". As long as you accept top flight clubs playing with so few English players, England will have a third rate national team. It is a complete no brainer! Blatter has the right idea but, unfortunately, you, the fans, pay no heed. Keep wasting fifty quid, or whatever you pay, in perpetuating this system and there is no choice other than to accept you are the architect of this decline. Goodness, Heskey, our best striker? Makes an old man very, very sad.
Posted 03:31 10th September 2008
Pete K (West Ham United fan) says...
When will everyone wake up and realise that we are an AVERAGE team, we have few world class players, and where are our world class strikers.............the simple answer is we do not have any.Bringing back Heskey sums it up really, the state of English football is in tatters thanks to the muppets that run the FA. We will do well to get a point in Croatia.
Posted 02:50 10th September 2008
Neil Bradshaw (Wigan Athletic fan) says...
This guy knows his stuff. He's always been a winner and I have every ounce of confidence in the man to bring success to our hungry hearts. C'mon England! C'mon Capello! And c'mon england fans - get behind them for once! As the boys in '82 sang... "this time, we'll get it right!"
Posted 00:57 10th September 2008
Paul Burgess (Arsenal fan) says...
Alex Boss - The old Wembley National Stadium was in dire need of complete replacement which is what happened, thankfully due to the FA, despite unassisted costs of over £800 million. Just what are you saying? that you want a free ticket when everyone else has to pay for it???
Posted 00:10 10th September 2008
Adam Butler (Aston Villa fan) says...
England should play 4-3-3. Lampard, Barry and Bullard in the middle with Cole, Rooney and Walcott left-to-right up top
Posted 23:51 9th September 2008
Kerr Barnett (Rangers fan) says...
I know it's hard to accept, but no matter who is in charge of England they fail to deliver what the fans expect. Who is to blame? The FA? The press? The fans? The players? I struggle to blame the manager because we've had some great ones over the years that just can't gel these individuals into a team.
Posted 23:01 9th September 2008
Aaron Smith (Notts County fan) says...
There is too much expectation and therefore pressure on the players. The media treat every players as a super star and then publish stories about the players personal life. We always play rubbish against teams that on paper we should thrash. I totally agree with Alex Boss (Everton fan) comments, the prices are too high. Beckham should retire, as he hasnt played any good since he joined Real Madrid. He is only in the team as he is/was Englands Only Star. We need a goalkeeper is plays in the Champions League or at least the UEFA Cup. The team needs to learn how to play slow passing football instead of running their socks off for every ball, its not playground football.
Posted 22:32 9th September 2008
Fra ... (Partick Thistle fan) says...
England just need to get behind there team and stop boing them , show a bit more passion even if the team is losing!
Posted 21:49 9th September 2008
Jamie Penfold (West Ham United fan) says...
It is quite simple. The midfield is the problem and the biggest problem of all is Lampard. He is not the big stage player. He has not proved himself as an England player and I feel he is only picked because of his name. Barry and Gerrard are a better partnership. Drop Beckham and bring in Bentley and Joe Cole. A more positive looking midfield with a bit more bottle. As for having no confidence at Wembley....could you imagine if the likes of Bobby Moore said he was scared of the nasty fans at Wembley. He's be laughed off the pitch and England wouldn't have won the World Cup. Get real. We are looking at overpaid prima donnas who are more interested in image and money than representing their country. I also agree with the earlier comment about the FA. Reduce the corporate seats and allow more of the real fans in.
Posted 21:07 9th September 2008
Corin Rennoldson says...
capello has got a couple of tough decisions ahead of him. does he opt for youth and energy in walcot or a steady head in david beckham? does he stick with defoe who he has shown trust in or does he goe with the more bullish frontline of rooney and heskey? i am actually glad gerrard is injured for this game as i cant take another display of confusion and frustration from him; which has been the theme of his england career for as long as i can remember (not that its his fault he is being thrown out on either wing). honestly a draw will be a good result as croatia never loose at home and england have been ar less than insparational in there last two games.
Posted 20:25 9th September 2008
Anon ---- (Newcastle United fan) says...
capello should put bentley on the right and walcott as the super-sub and get rid of beckham because he's not the same as before.
Posted 19:25 9th September 2008
Alex Boss (Everton fan) says...
Blame th F.A. Working class people who generate the atmosphere at Wembely are no longer able to afford to back their team. The 'twelth man' is now more interested in entertaining clients.
Posted 19:20 9th September 2008
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