Zagreb II will get Wembley crowd on board: Capello

Fabio Capello has warned his England’s stars that they must build on the momentum created by last month’s stunning win in Croatia by winning over the Wembley crowd against Kazakhstan on Saturday.

England’s recent outings at their home base have tended to end with a chorus of angry jeers highlighting the new stadium’s fine accoustics.

Capello believes that has created an inhibiting fear factor when Wayne Rooney and co. play in front of their home crowd.

But the 4-1 win in Zagreb has created tentative optimism that England are firmly on track to reach the 2010 World Cup finals, and their Italian coach wants to see the psychological shackles thrown off against a Kazakhstan side his squad should expect to beat comfortably.

“It is important we continue the positive start we have made so far,” Capello wrote in his programme notes for the match.

“This is the first time they have played England and I know how determined they will be to make things difficult for us.

“However, I will be telling the players that so long as we approach the game in the right way, play with a good tempo and maintain our discipline we can get the result and performance we want.”

Capello, who faces a tough selection dilemma over how to re-integrate Steven Gerrard into his side, went on to explain why he felt England, in the wake of their failure to reach Euro 2008, were better-equipped for away matches.

“I said this because there is often less pressure playing away from home,” he said. “With 90,000 supporters at home, there is great expectancy.

“Now that we have some of that crucial confidence back, I am sure that starting on Saturday, it will be easier for the players to perform to the best of their ability and that the Wembley crowd will generate a big atmosphere for the team.”

The Italian would have undoubtedly been tempted to maintain the same line-up that performed so well in Croatia but he is obliged to reshuffle his midfield with Joe Cole ruled out by an ankle injury and Steven Gerrard fit again after missing the trip to Croatia.

Frank Lampard’s performance in Croatia and outstanding current form for Chelsea makes it inconceivable that he will be dropped, but Capello is also conscious of the fact that his predecessors Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson both failed in their attempts to shoe-horn Lampard and Gerrard into the same team.

If he does opt to pair them again, Gareth Barry could make way or be pushed out to the left-sided berth that Cole occupied in Croatia.

That would however risk upsetting the balance of the side with neither Lampard or Gerrard renowned for their ability to break up opposition counter attacks.

The Liverpool captain could be deployed on the left but is rarely as effective in wide roles as he is when marauding through the middle, and Capello may judge that Kazakhstan’s attacking threat is sufficiently limited for him to gamble on a Lampard/Gerrard axis.

Capello’s high regard for Gerrard was underlined when he was considered as a possible captain under the Italian, although he ultimately opted to keep John Terry in the role.