New-look England or old flops?

2008-02-04 18:58

Watford, England - Is this a new-look England or just the same old flops?

Fabio Capello takes charge of England for his first game on Wednesday, a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.

Fans will begin to find out whether the Italian coach - who won titles with four different clubs - can sweep away England's old faults and create a new, vibrant lineup capable of challenging for the next World Cup.

"Different managers have different ideas, they have different rules and regulations," England midfielder Steven Gerrard said on Tuesday. "It takes time to adapt and I'm sure we will do in time."

Ten of the 14 players who flopped against Croatia under Steve McClaren last October and failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship Euro 2008 are in Capello's squad.

How many of them start is now up to the former AC Milan, AS Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid coach.

"No one's guaranteed a starting place so we've got to use these friendlies to impress the manager," Gerrard said. "Also, it's a chance to get back to winning football matches, try and get confidence back."

Of the 14 who lost 3-2 at Wembley in England's final Euro 2008 qualifying match, only David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Sol Campbell and Darren Bent are missing - Lampard through injury and Beckham, Campbell and Bent because they have been overlooked.

Scott Carson, Micah Richards, Wayne Bridge, Steven Gerrard, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Joe Cole all get another chance under the new coach.

Hamstring injury

With Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen back after injury, Capello has a stronger strikeforce than McClaren had although Gabriel Agbonlahor, the Aston Villa striker who has impressed him so far, has been forced to pull out with a hamstring injury.

Since he took charge on Jan 7, Capello has given the impression that he still has the tough, pragmatic approach that brought him so much success at club level.

Beckham has 99 caps and it would have been easy for Capello, his coach at Real Madrid last season, to allow the Los Angeles Galaxy star a 30-minute appearance to reach the landmark 100.

But Capello has decided that, because Beckham is not playing competitive soccer while he waits for the MLS season to start in late March, he should not be given a place ahead of players who are.

Beckham, so often England's matchwinner with his trademark free kicks, now has to prove himself match fit while playing several thousands of miles away.

"The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November," Capello said when he announced his squad on Friday.

100th cap will come

"When I spoke with David on the phone, I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again."

Added Gerrard: "Everyone's going on about the 99 caps. David's got to get back playing football, play well then I'm sure the 100th cap will come."

At least Capello, who has been speaking to the players in English in training and at meetings, has time on his hands before England's next competitive game.

Because McClaren's team failed to qualify for the Euros, the Italian has at least five friendlies before England's first qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup kicks off in September.

"We owe the fans, we owe ourselves a lot," England defender Rio Ferdinand said. "We didn't qualify, even for a few years we haven't produced what maybe on paper people would expect us to produce.

"We need to make sure we put that right and this is the start of it. It's a journey now towards the World Cup and we've got to make sure that we're well equipped to do that."

- AP