“Footballers are paid too much,” says £6million a year Fabio Capello, a man who might just be starting to find out what he signed up for early 2008.
England expects, and whether or not they expect a bit too much will be discovered over the next few weeks and months. In precisely 100 days, the nation will sit down to a primetime Saturday night television showing of the Three Lions’ opening World Cup Group C clash with the USA in Rustenburg, the first step – according to many – towards inevitable glory in Johannesburg in July. Feeling the heat yet Fabio?
One man still in the warm, familiar glare of the media spotlight is John Terry, likely to be the latest target of the Wembley boo-boys in tonight’s friendly against Egypt. After the Chelsea captain’s deserved dressing down, perhaps Capello should be thanking Terry, for his much publicised “personal problems” have highlighted the strength of squad that the Italian has at his disposal.
The shamed Terry can’t be captain? Give it to Rio Ferdinand then. He’s injured? Well pass it on to Steven Gerrard, only one of the most inspirational captains in Liverpool’s history and a prized midfielder worldwide.
Wayne Bridge doesn’t want to play? Well call on Leighton Baines and Stephen Warnock, the former one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League, and the latter a multi-million pound signing for Aston Villa who is vastly improving in all areas of his game. The experienced Wes Brown is on hand to deputise for Glen Johnson at right back, while the likes of Matthew Upson and £24million Joleon Lescott are hardly novice centre backs, and Ryan Shawcross is far more than just a leg-breaking tackler.
England have excellent strength in depth, a look at the teamsheets for the previous game played at Wembley – Sunday’s Carling Cup final – would show you that. It would be a huge surprise if any of the likes of Warnock, James Milner, Michael Carrick, Stewart Downing, Gabriel Agbonlahor or Ashley Young were in the starting XI for that USA clash in Rustenburg – and a shock on the Richter scale if Michael Owen was – but the match underlined the options at Capello’s disposal.
All of which cranks up the pressure, which the Italian could probably have done without. Tonight’s match is an important one for a few of his England players. For Terry, whose recent Chelsea form suggests a man burdened by recent events. For Gerrard, who a poll of supporters last week suggested should be permanent captain. For whoever plays at left-back. For whoever isn’t sure of their place on the plane yet. For Capello, who is stuck in a limbo between fancying his team’s chances to do well in South Africa, and playing down the rampantly over the top expectations.
If England win, and win well against Egypt tonight – African champions, but notoriously poor travellers – then make no mistake, they will be winning the World Cup tomorrow. The old lines about England’s “best chance since ‘66” will be dusted off and street parties will be scheduled for mid-July all over the country.
Capello’s job is to manage those expectations, while also attempting to live up to them. A tough ask, but £6million a year surely helps.
He can rest assured that he has a talented squad at his disposal with which to tackle his task, and while he won’t succumb to having those wild hopes and daydreams any time soon, it doesn’t stop the rest of the English public. After all, they have got a hugely talented squad, perhaps even the best in the World Cup, and you could say that it’s their best chance since ’66.
Sorry Fabio.
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