After England crashed out of Euro 2008, a frantic scramble for a suitable – or let’s be brutally honest, any – replacement for the hapless McClaren was concluded with the appointment of Fabio Capello.
The FA were pleased as Punch. Not only had they attracted a renowned global figure with an enviable CV; they’d done it in double-quick time, thus avoiding the usual ‘bungling gin-soaked amateurs’ brickbats normally hurled their way.
In reality, there was only ever one serious contender. Once Jose Mourinho had flirted with the FA to flush out more interesting offers and walrus-faced, long-ball merchant Sam Allardyce had laughably declared himself out of the running, Fabio was home and hosed.
An atmosphere of optimism immediately pervaded the new appointment and there was a display of unaccustomed reverence and genuflection among the ranks of the press.
This being England, we knew it couldn’t last. And just two games into his tenure, it’s clear that Signor Capello has thus far paid scant attention to the bit in the job description that reads ‘turn unimaginative also-rans into demonstrable world-beaters with wave of magic wand’.
To make things worse, some baffling statements emerged in the wake of the friendly defeat against France. “We played especially well in the first half. I saw some important improvements” (Answers on a postcard, please) and “Beckham could be our Cristiano Ronaldo” are particularly worthy of derision.
So, welcome to Team England, Fabio. A world where unrealistic expectation and impatience combine to create a job that isn’t for the faint-hearted. And in spite of his reported £6 million annual salary, the Italian probably knows already that there are times when the England job is as appealing as a turd sandwich.
But we know Capello is made of stern stuff. Indeed, coaching success aside, it is Capello’s persona which most appealed to those who greeted his appointment with such unbridled enthusiasm.
Here is a man, we are led to believe, who is resolute and thoroughly ruthless in his quest for results. One who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, is authoritarian and keeps a disrespectful distance between himself and the players. It is this final attribute that seemed to strike such a chord with the wider England fanbase. By failing to qualify, the England players were to be punished by the introduction of a sergeant-major figure who would aim a well-deserved kick their way.
Gleeful press reports were quick to underline this. If believed, a range of sanctions was imposed on the pampered stars – being made to wear jackets and ties, to eat meals and leave the table at the same time, and so on. This is merely spin, as much the same routine is now being observed as was the case under McClaren. Still, it makes for good copy.
Other, more significant changes, reveal more about Capello’s approach. Teams are only announced a couple of hours before kick off and a rotation system for the captaincy has been introduced before a formal announcement at the start of the World Cup campaign. In spite of the media frenzy about the captain’s armband, it is clear that Capello finds the song and dance surrounding it tiresome.
Players will now be picked on form and fitness. Common sense, you might think, but revolutionary as far as England is concerned. In any event, Capello has banished any cosiness over selection that existed previously.
And the press can also look forward to keeping its distance. In spite of the vow to learn to speak English, it is clear that Capello understands much, but says very little – and I suspect that this is by design to maintain an exclusion zone around him. Mind you, you’d do the same if you had to deal with Ray Stubbs.
Whereas McClaren was keen to make friends and allies, Capello doesn’t need them. His tenure is secure – he would be too expensive to dismiss at any rate – and we’ll certainly see him do things his way.
In return, the press has resorted to what it knows best – by making things up. Hence errant guesses about who would be captain and a number of mischievous mis-quotes to imply that players were critical of the new boss.
So what can we glean about Capello’s England so far? Precious little, which is what you’d expect given that the new coaching team has had but five sessions to work with their new charges.
One significant achievement so far is that Capello has managed to have the words ‘Rio Ferdinand’ and ‘role model’ used in the same sentence, which I must confess I never thought I’d see written of the wonky-mouthed drugs test dodger.
Going forward, you can expect the emergence of a settled core of players and the development of a side that gets better at keeping the ball. But there isn’t much time – three more friendlies and we’re into qualifying, with the Croatians looming large once again in September.
Conventional wisdom now has it that if Capello cannot secure qualification for World Cup 2010 for England, then we’re probably beyond help. True, the man’s track record is impressive, but whether even he is good enough for the unique challenge of turning England into serious contenders remains to be seen.
