England NT News

[SiN]

England boss Fabio Capello is ready to name Rio Ferdinand as England captain ahead of Chelsea defender John Terry.

[valdanito_10]

After the latest incidents with Terry, I say fair play!

[SiN]

besides rio has been playing far longer for england than terry am i correct?

[nelly]

Reading this monring that the gameagainst T&T may well be wiped form the record books as we made 1 too many sunstitutions, this would be a real shame for certain England playerswho got full CAPS and the goals scorers.

England victory may be wiped out

Ashton may still be waiting for his first England cap
Four England players could lose their first caps after Fifa said the 3-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago may not be rated a full international.

Fifa is unhappy that England made one more than the maximum six substitutions in the match, although the Football Association thought it was pre-agreed.

Dean Ashton, Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka and Stephen Warnock all made their first appearances for England.

But the victory is now in danger of being erased from the record books.

West Ham striker Ashton started the match, while Manchester City goalkeeper Hart, Everton defender Jagielka and Blackburn left-back Warnock came off the bench in the second half.

England boss Fabio Capello made seven changes in total - four at half-time, and three more later in the second half.

And that has left Fifa unhappy and considering whether to downgrade the match from an official A international.

A Fifa spokesman said: "We can confirm that Fifa did not give special dispensation to make up to seven substitutions at the Trinidad and Tobago versus England match.

"We have spoken internally at Fifa about the matter and nobody allowed this to happen."

606: DEBATE
Is it fair for England players to lose their caps?

However, the FA is under the impression such a decision had been agreed - and it is believed it had originally asked to make 11 changes.

An FA spokesman said: "The fact of the matter is the opportunity to use seven substitutes was cleared in advance of the game by Fifa, Trinidad and Tobago representative Jack Warner, the Fifa delegate for the game and the match referee.

"Trinidad had the same option to use seven subs. There is no way we would have gone ahead with using seven subs without the approval that we were given."

If Fifa rules the match should not be counted as a full international, it would also be a blow for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, who scored his first goal for his country.

England would also slip back down the Fifa world rankings, having moved up two places and regained a place in the top 10 after their victory.

And David Beckham, who was Capello's surprise choice to captain the side, will move back to having led his country on 58 occasions.

The hosts made six changes in the match, which was played in part to celebrate the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's centenary.

[Lance Knight]

well that seems a bit petty and silly, but i guess rules are rules, i say let the players keep their caps and goals and what not and just give the england nt a small little tiny fine or something

[nelly]

Fifa has announced England's 3-0 friendly win against Trinidad & Tobago will stand, despite a mistake over the number of substitutions used.

[I Am Legend]

Common sense has prevailed then. :)

[Wabbit]

Ferguson: South Africa tour is the start


Sir Alex Ferguson expects Manchester United's tour of South Africa to provide the perfect preparation for his side's Premier League title defence.

United fly to Africa on Thursday with Ferguson keen to concentrate on getting his squad into shape after a turbulent close-season marred by the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga and the departure of assistant manager Carlos Queiroz to Portugal.

The European champions play their first tour match against Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town's Newlands Stadium on Saturday.

United also face Orlando Pirates in Durban on 22 July before playing one of the two South Africa sides again at Loftus Stadium four days later. The tour concludes with a friendly in Abuja, Nigeria, against FA Cup winners Portsmouth on 27 July.

Ferguson believes the four matches will be tough enough to bring United up to speed ahead of the new English season, which kicks-off for the champions against Newcastle on 17 August.

He told MUTV: "The games in South Africa aren't easy games. It's a good, competitive level, so that should bring us on a good deal. I think by the time we get to the start of the season we'll be

[nelly]

Is it just me or does John Terry look like he's had two many Kebabs in this photo?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7554604.stm

Even Becks looks a little round!!!

3339

[nelly]

England have a friednly against Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Ferdinand is tipped to be captain

Who should be goalkeeper?

I am not expecting a great game, these never are, I expect only 1 or 2 goals, either team could win, I'd like to thnik it will be England but I'm not confident.

I doubt England will play well, I expect poor passing, plenty of subs at half time and a mediocre result.

Thoughts anyone?

[Gunner]

My thoughts the same, we cant play gerrard and lampard in the centre, it doesnt work, i think owen is a bit past it now, too inconsistant, walcott should get a chance but i think hes with the u21 squad.

---------------Hart
Richards--Ferdinand--Terry---A.Cole
--------Gerrard--Barry----
SWP-----------------------J.Cole
--------Rooney--Agbonlahor

[nelly]

John Terry named as England captain, full time England Captain.

[Gunner]

damn, i thought rio was a better captain..

[muzzyveli123]

Nah JT was always best Captain to have. His a Player which plays with the heart, His a Born Leader.. Good Call Fabio!

[Gunner]

Yeh, true.. To be honest though pretty much all the english nt players are captain worthy, none of them set a bad example, or ridicule themselves.

Rio is Vice captain and i think thats good enough for him.l

Terry is a big character and thats probably what we need to be honest.

Cant wait for the game tonight.

[nelly]

English players setting examples ?

Goal Keeper - undecided
Gary Neville if (Yes but not sure he is best player in that pos now)
Richards not enough experiance for me.
Ferdinand - Failed to show for drugs test, banned, sex scandal allegations
John Terry - Awful Gambling habbit, cired when he missed his penalty
A Cole - asshole
Hargreaves - Not good enough for me.
Steven Gerrard - Well yes maybe, I'm sure he has some connection to gangland via his wife.
Gareth Barry - Well has not handled his wish to leave Aston Villa very well, up until then he was good example.
Frank Lampard - not played well enough for England
SWP - Not good enough
J Cole - No experiance as leader
Rooney - Are you avin a laugh
Owen - Injury prone - weak personality
Agbonlahar - no epxeriance
Beckham - retired

I don't think we have any stand out captains,.

[Gunner]

sex scanals and gambling problems, this is all media talk mate. you shouldnt believe everything you read in the media, and its up to them what they do with their money! they get criticised if they walk into a supermarket wearing the wrong glasses or whatever. its stupid.

Gerrard
Lampard
Terry
Rio
Richards (too young but big captain potential)
Gary Neville
Hargreaves

any of those could be captain

[nelly]

I dissagree, Rio's drugs test was most definately not a rumour. And you are telling me that all the stories of Rio and his mates are untrue? give me a break like most Pro footballers the guy is an asshole.

John Terry.
'I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry'

Having paid his share of the £130,000 fines imposed by Chelsea, Terry was then involved in a 1.30am fracas at London's Wellington nightclub in 2002 in which a doorman was injured.

He was arrested, spent a night in the cells but was later cleared of charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding, possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon and affray.

In 2004, Terry's passion for gambling emerged. He was reportedly one of three Chelsea stars, along with Wayne Bridge and Scott Parker, said to have risked £40,000 a week between them on horse and dog races.

One day, Terry and Bridge were said to have blown £13,000 in three hours as they clutched rolls of £50 notes and enjoyed the 'buzz' at Coral's betting shop in Cobham, Surrey.

Earlier this year, Terry was reported to be one of the England players believed to have allegedly used Steve Smith as a betting agent.

Michael Owen introduced Smith, a business partner of his, to Wayne Rooney who then ran up a £700,000 gambling debt, causing a rift between the two strikers and throwing England's World Cup preparations into turmoil. Meanwhile, Terry's love life has been no less colourful. He is engaged to beautician Toni Poole, 24, and in their first seven years together is said to have strayed at least eight times, but has always been forgiven.

Last September, he said: "I really regret what I've done to Toni. I'm not going to cheat on her ever again and want to marry her more than anything in the world."

But two months later lurid revelations were made in The Sun about how Terry enjoyed a passionate clinch in his £100,000 Bentley with a busty teenager who had asked for his autograph and then sent her lewd text messages suggesting a threesome with one of her friends.

In an interview with the Daily Mail's soccer correspondent Matt Lawton last year, Terry said he had cleaned up his act after the nightclub bouncer incident and liked to spend his spare time fishing. "I had to learn from my experiences, and I like to think I've grown into a good bloke," he said.

He added: "I had to sort myself out really. I wasn't as bad as some people tried to make out."

The new boss McClaren said: "I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry. I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had."

For his part, Terry said: "I am very proud to be given this great opportunity."

No smoke without fire!



Lampard
Not good enough how can you say he is captain material you did not even have him in your starting 11?


Gerrard
I have already said maybe


Gary Neville - I dont think he'll play many more games for England

Hargreaves-Not good enough, will he play every game if fit?

I don't believe everything I read in the paper, but for you to say they all pretty much worhty captains and none have set bad examples is laughable.

Rio
John Terry

For me neihter have set good examples - I think John Terry is pretty good captain but I cannot say he has never set a bad example.

[Gunner]

So what you expect, them all to be little angels? get the ***k out of here man!

What i want in the captain is someone who will get players to do what he wants. Also to follow by example (on the pitch)

I dont really care what they do outside the pitch. Gambling isnt against the law, and the drugs thing, so what! if he smoke a joint or something who really cares!

and as for the sex scandal, if you were a rich footballer and a you slept with a girl, theres always a chance that girl will try and lie and take them to court and try get lots of money. Why the hell would rio want to rape someone? he can get any girl he wants with his big wallet.

[nelly]

So what you expect, them all to be little angels? get the ***k out of here man!

What i want in the captain is someone who will get players to do what he wants. Also to follow by example (on the pitch)

I dont really care what they do outside the pitch. Gambling isnt against the law, and the drugs thing, so what! if he smoke a joint or something who really cares!

and as for the sex scandal, if you were a rich footballer and a you slept with a girl, theres always a chance that girl will try and lie and take them to court and try get lots of money. Why the hell would rio want to rape someone? he can get any girl he wants with his big wallet.

Paul it was you not I, whom brought up players never setting bad examples, I am merely pointing out, some bad examples.

Have I mentioned Rape?

So in your words and I'll add a please get the ***K out of here man.

[Gunner]

You said sex scandals, the only thing i can think of thats illegal with sex is rape. Anyways what has a player got to do in your ideal world then to be captain?

Drink Cocoa instead of beer?
Eat no nice fatty foods ever?
No mad sex with sluts?
No gambling?

Oh thats right, theyre not alowed to enjoy themselves and have a boring life.. yeah right..

Football players get picked on too much.

[nelly]

You said sex scandals, the only thing i can think of thats illegal with sex is rape. Anyways what has a player got to do in your ideal world then to be captain?

Drink Cocoa instead of beer?
Eat no nice fatty foods ever?
No mad sex with sluts?
No gambling?

Oh thats right, theyre not alowed to enjoy themselves and have a boring life.. yeah right..

Football players get picked on too much.

Again I bring you back to your point.

To be honest though pretty much all the english nt players are captain worthy, none of them set a bad example, or ridicule themselves.

So are being banned from football due to failing to show for a drugs test, being implicated in sex scandals (Rape not mentoined) Gambling to the point of stupidity, Arrest, charged then later cleared of wounding with intent to cause GBH, serial adultery,in your mind not bad examples to set?

Why are you banging on about what is legal or illegal you have stated that the English national team is full of plausible captains all of whom have never set bad examples?

Listen, I have no problem with any of these examples below, all sound like fun to me.

Drink Cocoa instead of beer?
Eat no nice fatty foods ever?
No mad sex with sluts?
No gambling?

But I am not vying for the English football teams Captains armband, and neither am I making claims that none of our players have ever set a bad example!

I pretty much think all the polayers mentioend enjoy themselves and why shouldn't they?
But why are you stating that hey have never set bad examples, when they clearly have?

[Gunner]

I dont think they have set bad examples, just because they diddnt show up for a drug test, gambling or having crazy sex sessions doesnt mean theyre bad examples.

you want a person who is a bad example:

someone who smokes crack or does heroin, a paedophile, someone who beats their wife, someone who doesnt look after their kids properly and alows them to get into drugs..

thats what REAL bad examples are.

[Gunner]

But anyway lol

I dont know why were argueing over this to be honest, it doesnt really matter..

Lets talk about Englands game tonight with Czech Republic

Anyone know what the line ups are?

[nelly]

Well I think a Parodies of virtue will win 1-0 ;)

And expect a dull game with plenty of subs at half time.

I hope I'm, wrong but I can't see it.

[Gunner]

To be honest i wouldnt be suprised either. We are way off being rebuilt as a squad.

I think one more year, if we get Micah Richards, Tom Huddlestone, Fraizer Campbell and Jack Wilshere in the 1st team, we will look a lot more dangerous.

Although i think Jack Wilshere will be in the u21 squad before he goes to the first team, but i think hes ready now!

[nelly]

Not an awful 1st half, but overall it was yet agian very dissapointing.

Yet another manager that wants to play the same midfield that has failed to do the business in 3 major competitions.

Beckham
Gerrard
Lampard

This trio does not work, for me this has to be the last game for Becks, it must be Bentley from now on. Gerrard and Lampard should not be in the same team, I see no reason why they cannot play together but it seems when ever they do we look poor. For me Gerrardmust start & Lampard goes on the bench.

What has happened to Wayne Rooney, how many shots did he have, he should be getting 5-10 shots away every game, he gets like 1-2 at best.


Seems England are nowe very weak up front, Owen has been in andout with injury for 3 years, Rooney has lost his edge, and the rest are I'm affraid for not worldclass. Letshope the young players can step up to the next level and bail us out.

Unless Cappello has a big change of heart he is no different to the previous two managers, except he has a stronger personality than Mclaren the knit wit.

The team he is poutting out is the same team Sven would put out.
Worryingly for me was the balance, positioning, movement, players like Beckham did noit seem to know where they should be playing.

I am very dissapointed, if we cannot imporve we are gonna struggle to qualify for the WC and even if we do, we will once again, fade out of the big competition without making an impression.

Very poor

3/10 for me.

[Gunner]

I agree, why do we still play Beckham? He is well past it. And i also did notice about our Strikers, theyre not doing enough, we need to bring in some youngsters and give them a go.

I was watching Milner, Derbyshire, Richards and Huddlestone in the U21's the other day and i was very impressed.

[muzzyveli123]

How has Jimmy Bullard got into the England Team lol. He Never Represented England At any Level..

[nelly]

Re Jimmy Bullard.

He's not such a bad player and we have injuries, he is no worse than Lampard at present or Beckham, and certainly Heskey. (On present form)

I'm sad to say that at present the England team is not so good, I think we have a poorer selection of players to choose from now than at any time in the last 12 years.

I don't think Cappello is going to make a great impact to be honest, he is a great manager I have no doubt about this, but I'm very pesimistic on England at present.

I am at a low, depressed about England NT at the moment, and I think the EPL is out of control, I am concearned all these foreign rich guys buying clubs, the thing is they are all rich and they cannot all win, I think it's all gonna go bent in the next couple of years.

[muzzyveli123]

lol..Wow You do seem really depressed about the England NT. Its not that bad..But To be honest, Id say there certain to get into the World Cup, unlike the failure they suffered in the Euro Quailification.

[nelly]

Nothing to happy about man.

Country being run by a fat scotsman

Football team being run by an Italian

Cricket team being run by South African

Tennis - Main hope / only hope = Scotsman

I maintain that the NT is now less talented than it has been in last 12 years, yes we have a better manager but not better players.

[muzzyveli123]

Well When you say it like that mate, Id agree...There isnt really anything to be happy about. I think The England NT will improve though, Capello will make some interesting decisions which will overall improve the NT and take England Forward.

[Gunner]

its our next crop of youngsters that will be the england team weve been waiting for.

walcott, agbonlahor, young, richards, huddlestone, wilshere, gibbs, johnson..

and i think stuart pearce will be capellos successor.

[Gunner]

Oh and one for the distant future, cruz beckham. You just know he will become the beckham we needed in david.

[muzzyveli123]

lol..Is cruz Beckham playing football. How old is he.

[nelly]

lol..Is cruz Beckham playing football. How old is he.


He might choose to play for America.

[muzzyveli123]

I believe Cruz Was born in Spain, Madrid. So he will have the choice of playing for England or Spain.

[nelly]

I believe Cruz Was born in Spain, Madrid. So he will have the choice of playing for England or Spain.

Or America if he stays living in the states.


Example

Carlo Cudicini

Eligible for England as has only played for Italy @ U21 level and has lived in UK for required length of time.

[muzzyveli123]

Geez if Beckham dont Stay in once country his poor kids could have problems in choosing which country. But TBH if Cruz did play football and was good enough to play at International Level I think he'd Choose England, as Thats where his dad played. I mean Cruz is English, Both parents are English, so it makes sence to play for England. :)

[I Am Legend]

Nothing to happy about man.

Country being run by a fat scotsman

Football team being run by an Italian

Cricket team being run by South African

Tennis - Main hope / only hope = Scotsman

I maintain that the NT is now less talented than it has been in last 12 years, yes we have a better manager but not better players.


Nelly, mate I disagree with you about the cricket team. Pieterson qualified for England as his mother is English. He chose to play for us and i am happy with that. Also, he has 10 team mates as well. It is not a one man show.

Don't worry about the tennis as Murray will never win anything more than a small ranking event that the big boys don't want to win.

Brown will not be prime minister after the next election

I worry about the football team though. :lol:

[nelly]

Geez if Beckham dont Stay in once country his poor kids could have problems in choosing which country. But TBH if Cruz did play football and was good enough to play at International Level I think he'd Choose England, as Thats where his dad played. I mean Cruz is English, Both parents are English, so it makes sence to play for England. :)

True - I'm only joking.

But it would be unusual right, I mean when we look back in history we do not have to many footballers emulating thier fathers do we, or not to the same levels at least, Maldini is perhaps the best example, both achieving greatness.

[nelly]

Rio Ferdinand is the only player who is a doubt for our game against Andorra.

However thismeans the possibility of Lescot or Upsom.

Not bad players but for Lescot had a night mare when he played for England previously, and Upsom has not been outstanding.

I'm not happy about this.

Good Job it's Andorra, surely we cannot F--k this up, can we?

[nelly]

England need to win this game against Andorra or we might get Leapfrogged by the Scots, and we can't be having that, no sir!

"No! No, no, nonono, nono, no, No, no, no. NO! No, no, nonono, nono, no, No, no, no!" Logan - S Beast.




England have fallen one place to 15th in Fifa's latest world rankings after being leapfrogged by Cameroon.

Fabio Capello's men played only once during the latest ranking period, drawing 2-2 with the Czech Republic in a friendly at Wembley on 20 August.

European champions Spain retained their position at the top of the rankings for a third consecutive month.

Scotland remain 16th, while Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales are 32nd, 38th and 53rd, respectively.

[muzzyveli123]

lol..If England lose against andorra, Then they deserve to go behind Scotland! Man, Andorra is a pthetic Team, IMO they might aswell just award the 3 points already to england because there is only going to be one winner! ENGLAND! Im predicting a 4-0 win to England! :)

[I Am Legend]

I am saying England will win 7-0 in against Andorra and 3-1 against Croatia.

[nelly]

I am saying England will win 7-0 in against Andorra and 3-1 against Croatia.

Sure you have not started that bike already, had a fall and hit your head? I doubt we will score 10 in the whole campaign.

[I Am Legend]

Nope, that is what I believe will happen. Trust me...I am the one who said Padraig Harrington would win the US Golf Open and that Holland would pump 4goals up Italy at Euro 2008. :smoking: :smoking:

[nelly]

Nope, that is what I believe will happen. Trust me...I am the one who said Padraig Harrington would win the US Golf Open and that Holland would pump 4goals up Italy at Euro 2008. :smoking: :smoking:


How did you predict we would fear in the Euro 2008 I wonder, did forecast us not to qualify?

Shameful, we are embarassing, I am disgusted.

Even that twat Murray is starting to win now!!!

[I Am Legend]

Don't worry about Murray. :lol:

Rafa Nadal will kick his ass in the semi's.

Nelly I hear ya about the football team. I just wanna shake them as they frustrate me so much. I don't let it affect me anymore though. If they play well then that is good and if not then f*ck em. :lol::lol:

[nelly]

Don't worry about Murray. :lol:

Rafa Nadal will kick his ass in the semi's.

Nelly I hear ya about the football team. I just wanna shake them as they frustrate me so much. I don't let it affect me anymore though. If they play well then that is good and if not then f*ck em. :lol::lol:

Jesus, you know after Euro 2004 I was pinning my hopes on Wayne Rooney and his brother after hearing the his brother was a better player even than Wayne.

Well, we all know, his bro packed it in, to concentrate on Boxing, and to be honest Rooney has not had the same impact since.

My plan was a bit like Erkisons for Euro 2004, stand all the team behind the ball and give it to Rooney, only this time we'd have two of them, try breaking both the guys feet you cheating Portugesse bastards, I thought!

[I Am Legend]

Jesus, you know after Euro 2004 I was pinning my hopes on Wayne Rooney and his brother after hearing the his brother was a better player even than Wayne.

Well, we all know, his bro packed it in, to concentrate on Boxing, and to be honest Rooney has not had the same impact since.

My plan was a bit like Erkisons for Euro 2004, stand all the team behind the ball and give it to Rooney, only this time we'd have two of them, try breaking both the guys feet you cheating Portugesse bastards, I thought!



I dunno Nelly...I think Wayne Rooney is a hell of a player and the bad press he gets isn't fair. His brother probably knows he will make more money in boxing. I heard Rooney was easily good enough to have gone pro too. i think he chose correctly.

Back to NT...Looks like JT isn't fit for Saturdays game against Kazakhstan.

[SiN]

pretty comfortable 5-1 win over the kazkas last night

i watched a bit of the match...

[Gunner]

Rooney is playing great right now. There are always people who will critisie the poor guy even when he is playing extremely well. Thats the sad life we live in these days.

Walcott has pace, but his finishing and ability to find space behind the defenders is brilliant too, and his dribbling is also improving.

He is stil 19, he is well on track to become a more complete player and he is under the best guidance possible. (Wenger & Capello)

Rooney has improved many more parts of his game and i have no doubts Walcott will too.

Owen has a serious ego problem, he always has though and not every person is the same. Look at Lampard, Gerrard and Beckham, they diddnt turn up like that, they have charisma, but thats natural, theyre not big headed and full of themselves.

Rooney has an excellent attitude in my opinion and Walcott is still maturing, at the moment he is trying to get too big for his boots but thats natural. He will mature as a player and person.

[Gunner]

Best start

It's been well documented already that England's four wins out of four represents their best ever start to a World Cup Qualifying campaign.


http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/6DF95537-2E49-4D53-A2EE-B7B9C2D5D391/150953/WalcottBelarus_H.jpg

There have been some decent starts over the years. Three wins and a draw, for example, were achieved in England's first four qualifiers for the 1986, 1990, 1994 and 2006 tournaments.

They also did it for 1958 and 1962, but England only needed to play four matches to qualify in those days.

England's opening four results on the Road to South Africa 2010 have been 2-0 v Andorra, 4-1 v Croatia, 5-1 v Kazakhstan and 3-1 v Belarus. Their impressive tally of 14 goals equals the 1986 mark, when Bobby Robson's England began with 5-0 v Finland, 8-0 v Turkey, 1-0 v Northern Ireland and 0-0 v Romania.

When England were in a qualifying group with just Portugal and Luxembourg for the Chile Finals in 1962, they scored 16 goals in their four matches.

David Beckham's 107th England appearance, as a late substitute for Wayne Rooney in Minsk last night, lifts him up to third in the all-time caps list. He's only one short of Bobby Moore - but Peter Shilton is still way out in front with 125.

Teams

Belarus

12 Yuri Zhevnov, 2 Aleksandr Kulchy, 3 Egor Filipenko, 4 Sergei Omelyanchyuk, 5 Dmitry Molosh, 7 Vitaly Bulyga, 10 Pavel Sitko, 13 Vitaly Kutuzov, 14 Anton Putilo (11 Vitaly Rodionov, 67), 16 Igor Stasevich (9 Vyacheslav Hleb, 90), 18 Dzmitry Verkhovtsov

Subs not used Anton Amelchenko, Sergei Veremko, Vladimir Korytko, Andrei Chukhlei, Sergei Sosnovsky, Aleksandr Hleb, Oleg Strakhanovich, Aleksandr Pavlov, Alexei Skvernyuk

Manager
Bernd Stange

England

1 David James, 2 Wes Brown, 3 Wayne Bridge, 4 Steven Gerrard, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 6 Matthew Upson, 7 Theo Walcott (16 Shaun Wright-Phillips, 68), 8 Frank Lampard, 9 Emile Heskey (18 Peter Crouch, 70), 10 Wayne Rooney (15 David Beckham, 88), 11 Gareth Barry

Subs not used 12 Scott Carson, 13 Glen Johnson, 14 Joleon Lescott, 17 Jermain Defoe

Manager
Fabio Capello

Referee
Terje Hauge (Norway)

Assistant Referees
Geir Age Holen, Jan Petter Randen (Both Norway)

[Gunner]

Capello: Where Did England Go Wrong?

Fabio Capello, the England manager, has revealed his confusion and sadness at how the birthplace of football had slipped so far down the international pecking order prior to his arrival...

http://i.media.goal.com/g/37108_news.jpg

Capello took over the Three Lions just shy of a year ago, shortly after Steve McClaren's men famously failed to qualify for EURO 2008.

The English game - the international one, at least - was in a state of disrepair at that point. They sport's founders were, once more, the laughing stock of Europe.

Speaking to FIFA's official website, Capello expressed his dismay at where his new team were at when he took charge.

"Managing England was a childhood dream of mine," said Capello in the interview, which was re-printed in the Daily Mail.

"For me, the English have always been the teachers of our sport, the ones who took the game to the rest of the world.

"I simply cannot understand how England can drop as low, as we speak, as 15th in the FIFA world ranking."

The updated rankings, which show the Britons as level with Portugal in 10th spot, were released shortly after this interview, highlighting the fantastic start England have made to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Capello's charges have a perfect record after four games and are the clear favourites to progress from UEFA Group 6.

The Italian tactician insisted that the key has been creating a team atmosphere and implementing aspects of continental football while maintaining England's innate characteristics.

"Football always has to be a reflection of a country’s culture," he said. "I don’t want to change the characteristics and traits of English footballers, I just want to instil more discipline and teach them to work better as a team.

"Having said that, I do allow each player room to develop his own style within the role that I assign to him.

"I want to give England a little taste of Latin football from France, Italy, Greece and Spain, and even from Portugal and Croatia, as all of these countries have dominated the European Championship and World Cup in the last 10 years, with the exception of the World Cup in 2002 when Brazil came out on top.

"English football has not been just about 'kick and rush' or 'put the ball in the box' for many years now. I want a compact English team.

"Whether we win or lose, the most important thing is that we have a team on the pitch and not just a group of players."