2010 FIFA EMBLEM

World Rankings

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html

The latest FIFA World rankings were released yesterday. Whilst the rankings are open to question as to their relevance and accuracy, they are nonetheless a ranking system. England are 15th and have gone down six places. The ranking system will serve as a useful tool as an indication of England’s progress under Fabio Capello.

Final Friendly Before Qualifying Begins

On August 20th England will play a friendly international against the CZECH REPUBLIC at Wembley. This marks the beginning of the new era and is the last warm up game before the new campaign starts. As mentioned yesterday the previous four internationals were in a vacuum of a new manager getting to know the players and the general sense of anti climax that the team were not participating in Euro 2008. This game will ascertain whom the England captain will be, and also give an indication as to the players Capello feels are his core squad. Then after this fixture the competitive games will commence.

The Manager

Born on the 18th June 1946 in San Canzian d’Isonzo , Italy, Fabio Capello has had success at every club he has managed.

He has managed 1991–1996 AC Milan; 1996–1997 Real Madrid; 1997–1998 AC Milan; 1999–2004 Roma; 2004–2006 Juventus; 2006–2007 Real Madrid.

Impressively he has won the championship with every club he has managed.     

 Italy:

• Scudetto: 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96 (Milan); 2000/01 (Roma), [2004/05, 2005/06 (Juventus) later removed]
  • Runner-up: 2001/02, 2003/04 (Roma)
• UEFA Champions League: 1994 (Milan 4–0 Barcelona)
  • Runner-up: 1993 (Marseille 1–0 Milan) 1995 (Ajax 1–0 Milan)
• European Super Cup: 1994 (Milan 2–0 Arsenal)
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1992, 1993, 1994 (Milan); 2001 (Roma)
  • Runner-up: 2005 (Juventus)
• Runner-up: 1997/98 (Milan); 2002/03 (Roma)

Spain:

• La Liga: 1996/97; 2006/07 (Real Madrid)

He is a great manager and his knowledge of football immense. He enjoys art and classical music.

Managing a national team is a new challenge for Capello. The style of football in England differs from Italy or Spain. Capello’s objective will be to blend the English style of play with a more thoughtful and technical approach that characterises, Serie A or La Liga. Hopefully both players and crowd will be able to appreciate this change. Capello will certainly embrace the concept of the collective rather than the individual in his team selections. What will be new to him is the Anglo Saxon concept of football culture, and dealing with our players. Certainly in the past the country has been over optimistic going into leading tournaments. This was perhaps most exemplified in Germany 2006 where a certain arrogance was discernible both in the team and the media. Capello is a no nonsense and realistic manager ,early indications are that he is employing a more rigorous and disciplined approach to International duty. Capello has had four games as England manager. This period he has been able to adjust to the position and see the players at first hand. It can be best described as an introductory period for Capello and the players. Certainly the failure to qualify for Euro 2008 will have taken the edge off the players and supporters. In the absence of working towards the final stages of a tournament and the nature of the games which have all been non competitive, the real pressure has been off and this period may have been beneficial. The chance for the new man to acclimatise before the job begins in earnest.

Now a new era can begin. The focus is the 2010 World Cup. The games will be competitive and the Capello England can start to flourish. If Capello cannot raise the level of English football achievement then perhaps no one can.

Buona fortuna Fabio!