Euro 2012: Fabio Capello: ‘This is my job, the journalists can criticise me’
England duly completed their first allotted task of maximum points from their opening Euro 2012 qualifiers with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland.
The 10th-minute goal from Wayne Rooney, ensuring back-page headlines that would not make him blush this time, set the tone that head coach Fabio Capello would have wanted to see maintained. Seven goals for one against in two matches – following on from the 4-0 victory over Bulgaria on Friday - looks good on paper but what has passed on the pitch over the last five days still leaves some room for improvement.
There are those who say that Capello’s communication skills leave some room for improvement but, as the Italian points out with a resigned smile, no-one made much mention of that when England were the supposed to be the best thing since bread, sliced or otherwise.
However Capello sliced it – and the first half looked good - the last 20 minutes, after Xherdan Shaqiri scored for Switzerland, was decidedly harum-scarum against a 10-man team until Darren Bent eased the tension late on. But if football is a results business then the coach’s stock is rising again even if it is not yet at the market high of six months ago.
“I think we played the first half fantastic football and it was very important to win,” Capello said. There are times when he is accused of stating the obvious but there are plenty of managers capable of doing that in their first language.
“I was really happy with the first half,” he continued “the second half we probably played too slow and ball possession was too slow, and I think after the second goal – and Switzerland was 10 players against 11 – more easy.”
It had been a far from easy few days for Rooney but Capello felt fully vindicated with the decision to play the Manchester United striker. “He scored a goal – this is important for him and for us – the movement as a holding player was really good. Also, tactically, he did some things really, really well. Sometimes pressed No.8, No.6 – the most important players – and I’m really happy for the Rooney performance.
“I think the pressure was really strong for him but he played very well.”
The pressure was fully released on Capello when Darren Bent scored the third goal, after squandering some chances, and the implacable Capello facade did slip momentarily. “He had some chances to score goals and that moment – when you lose a lot of chances to score the third goal – it’s possible Switzerland [to score]. Long distance, one corner, one penalty something like this. But, after the third goal, I was happy because it finished the game.”
Whether it has finished the criticism waits to be seen but Capello, publically at least, refuses to be brought down by such comments. “This is my job, the journalists can criticise me – I follow straight always.”
Capello’s captain, Steven Gerrard admitted that the performance which had made England the dominant force in the first half did dissipate in the second period. “I think we got a bit last in the second half. The passing wasn’t quick enough and they came into the game at certain stages. But it was never in doubt. People were talking about how Switzerland are, how good they are defensively, we just tore them apart.”
Which may have been the overall picture but the tableau during which Switzerland were pressing for an equalising goal could not be entirely erased as Gerrard conceded. “The game’s never safe when you’ve only got a one-goal lead but we were always comfortable. But we have to learn, when we are 2-0 up, not to get sloppy.”
One lesson that does appear to have been absorbed is that it will take a little more than two victories to erase the memories of the dire World Cup campaign. “It’s going to take another two years to prove our supporters and to prove to the rest of the world that England are back. Two good results don’t make you a good team.”
That is the task that lies ahead for Capello.
http://www.senore.com/Euro-2012-Switzerland-v-England-full-time-report-a25933http://www.senore.com/Euro-2012-Last-gasp-McManus-saves-Scotlands-blushes-a25939
http://www.senore.com/Euro-2012-Portugal-slip-to-defeat-in-Norway-a25940
Tags: