Capello rings the changes – but will he do enough?

Fabio Capello’s England squad for this week’s friendly against Hungary contains thirteen differences from the twenty-three man squad he took to the World Cup. Only twelve of those will turn up, as goalkeeper Paul Robinson has since announced his retirement from the International stage. I have to say I don’t blame him really. He would have hoped to go to the World Cup, missed out and then, at the age of thirty-one, gets called up with four years to go until the next one.

Players

The ten players who have kept their place are Joe Hart, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Michael Dawson, Gareth Barry, Steve Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

There are some exciting names amongst the other twelve players but I won’t believe we have really seen a change until we see Capello’s side run out without Terry, Barry, Lampard and Gerrard. I know it is good to keep some experience but how many chances are these people going to get to do well in international competition?

Apologised

Capello has now publicly apologised for England’s showing in the World Cup and explained that he was close to leaving the job. Despite that, I am assured by those who regularly deal with Capello that his performance when delivering the apology was a very long way from being convincing. He apparently looked and sounded uncomfortable. Almost as if he had been told to say what he was saying?

Capello said,

“I say sorry to the fans that joined us in South Africa. I understand the fans spent a lot of time and money following England in South Africa. I’m really sorry, but we have to look forward now for the European qualification matches.”

Resigning

Capello was asked if he had considered resigning,

“The day after the Germany game, I spoke with Club England chairman Sir Dave Richards in South Africa. I told him what I think and said ‘you have to decide on my future’. I thought a lot about the situation but I’m a fighter and I’ve never quit in my career. I always look forward. I thought about different solutions and, after I spoke with Sir Dave, I decided to stay here. I want to go forward and to improve and to play the Euros because for me they will be very important.”

Capello fully expects his players and himself to get some rough treatment from the England fans at Wembley on Wednesday when they take on Hungary in the last friendly before the European qualifiers start.

“I understand the supporters. I think on Wednesday sometimes they may boo but we need the support of the fans. It is very important but I possibly expect them to boo on Wednesday because they had a lot of confidence in the team going into the World Cup and the results were not so good.”

Fatigue

Capello again said that he felt that player fatigue was the main reason behind England’s failure.

“We played the game in March against Egypt and the players were in a good situation physically. But when we played the friendly games before the World Cup, the players were not in the same situation that they were in March. We knew the situation before the World Cup. I spoke with my staff but I could not come out and say this because psychologically it is not good for the players because they can read everything.”

Just to show that the old Capello, renowned for being a disciplinarian, is still there, he was asked about the recent reports of Wayne Rooney being pictured outside a nightclub, smoking and allegedly urinating behind a bin.

“About Rooney, I read something in a Spanish paper and I read Alex Ferguson was not happy with this. I will speak with Rooney. I always speak with the players. They have to remember they are really important to the fans, and behaviour-wise we have to be careful. That applies to everyone. I will speak to Rooney when I meet him. I will remind him it is not good.”

Wednesday will be a big night for Capello. I just wonder if he will have the courage to see through the changes by naming a much changed starting eleven or whether he will stick by the players who have failed so many times before.