Capello knows how to give his players breathing space

All over the world, countries are looking either to improve their chances of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa or, in England’s case, make their qualification a certainty by beating Croatia next Wednesday.

The match is already a sell-out and the friendly game against Slovenia on Saturday is expected to pull in an estimated 75,000. Such interest means England expects.

For me, the incredible 4-1 win away against Croatia was the turning point of Fabio Capello’s reign as manager. Prior to that the team’s performances had been iffy and tongues were beginning to wag as to where the improvement was that everyone had expected – in fact, demanded – following Capello’s appointment.

The win in Zagreb quietened the sternest of critics and it is fitting that a victory over the same opponents would seal England’s qualification.

While having the utmost respect for both Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson, I am not a supporter of the major football countries appointing foreign managers and coaches. I have always assumed that international football is about players, supporters, managers, coaching and medical staff of one nation, pitting their football wits against the same of another nation.

I do understand some of the smaller countries calling upon outside help, but do we see nations such as Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, Holland and others having foreign staff? Surely we get enough of the mix in Champions League football, where we are able to see so many players and managers of different nationalities in the same competition.

How can you sing the national anthem of a foreign country with any real feeling?

OK, rant over, let’s get back to the positives. I fully appreciate the off-field discipline that Capello has brought into the set-up. Everyone for breakfast at the same time, suits and not tracksuits are a couple of examples. They may seem trifling things to many people, but my experience tells me that off-field discipline transmits to on-field discipline and attention to detail is paramount.

Confidence and belief between players and manager is vital, especially at international level where in effect you are managing other managers’ players for a very short period of time. You are also managing players who are not used to being left out of the team, or even worse not even making the substitutes’ bench.

The fact that all of the original selected squad have turned up for these two games bodes well for the future, as Capello needs to get to know as much about his squad players as is possible. The likelihood of one or two of his regular players getting injured and missing out on the World Cup is very real, bearing in mind how much football we play in this country. So the friendly game against Slovenia does play a part in the England manager’s long-term preparation, and we may be able to gather some clues as to who, fitness allowing, will be in his World Cup squad.

I suspect that by the time both games have finished all 24 players will have had some time on the pitch.

There are some positives about foreign managers. The media as a whole do not get as close to them as they would do an Englishman and this allows the manager to have some vital breathing space.

Capello is excellent at keeping his distance and apart from when he is seen at club matches, there is little reference to him between international get-togethers. All of this is of value to both himself and the players.

He expects them to act in a professional manner, to be confident in themselves, to work as a team and to do as he tells them. Italian or English – that’s the mark of a top manager.

GRAHAM TAYLOR is official brand ambassador for Precision Training, Britain’s leading supplier of sports training aids. Precision Training are official suppliers of specialist training aids to the Football League. See www.precisiontraining.uk.com