Capello certain England will sparkle in finals

Published on Friday 5 June 2009 22:07

FABIO Capello has revealed the "big confidence" he has in his England players to perform well at the 2010 World Cup.

England can take a huge step towards ensuring qualification by overcoming Kazakhstan in Almaty today and then Andorra at Wembley next Wednesday.

Capello has faith in skipper John Terry and the rest of his team to do themselves justice in South Africa in 12 months' time.

Capello said: "First we have to get through to South Africa but I think we will be a very good team if we achieve that. We are very strong and we can play against all the best teams of the best countries in the world. I am very happy with these players, with this group and I have big confidence in the future."

Capello will not use end-of-season tiredness as an excuse should England slip up against Kazakhstan. He said: "At the end of the season, the players are not fresh like when we started. But we have to play two very important games against Kazakhstan and Andorra. The problems of players, if they are tired or not, is no excuse. We have to play, we have to win and everyone who plays has to be very strong. There will be no excuses that we are tired or wanting a holiday. None of that."

Capello is happy to see Arsenal winger Theo Walcott return to the international fold for the first time in eight months since suffering his shoulder problem. Walcott shot to prominence with his hat-trick in the 4-1 demolition of Croatia in Zagreb earlier in the campaign and Capello said: "I think all the players are important, not only Theo Walcott. But he is good. We are happy that he is back because it is important for us."

Capello understands Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's concerns over Walcott suffering from burn-out, as he will join up with the Under-21s for the European Championships in Sweden after the two World Cup games. But he points to the fact that Walcott missed a sizeable chunk of the campaign with his shoulder setback.

Capello said: "Theo is one of the players that played less games last season. He was injured for four months and now he has just started to be very fit. I followed him in the last games he played. Stuart Pearce (Under-21 coach) spoke with him and he was happy to play for the Under-21s and so after the seniors Theo will go with the Under-21s.

"I understand also all the managers at the start of the season like to have all the team together because pre-season is very important. For this reason, I understand Arsene (Wenger). But there are also the Confederation Cup, South American World Cup games and others going on during the summer."

Capello will assess the fitness of Rio Ferdinand after today's game. He has not travelled to Almaty because of a back problem. But the manager has confidence in the likes of Joleon Lescott and Matthew Upson if they are needed alongside Terry.

Capello said: "Rio was not fit so he stayed in England. We have played a lot of games without him and I have big confidence in Joleon Lescott and big confidence in Matthew Upson. There is no problem for the game. When we return to England, we will check the condition of Rio and if he is fit, he will stay with us."

Capello was also keen to play down reports of a training-ground altercation between midfielder Gareth Barry and another player after the Manchester City newcomer had been challenged.

He said: "I was a player. I am a manager. During the training sometimes, some players after one tackle push the other one but yesterday I saw nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Capello is also backing new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti to be a success in the Premier League. He said: "It is the first time Carlo will have worked away from Italy. It is an adventure for him and I hope he will do very well and bring big satisfaction for the club and the owner (Roman Abramovich).

Meanwhile, England skipper Terry will edge closer to the World Cup with victory in Kazakhstan but he is determined to finally win the Champions League before turning his attention to South Africa.

Terry is still haunted by missing the penalty in Moscow that would have sealed victory in Europe's top club competition, followed by the last-gasp semi-final defeat to Barcelona this season after Chelsea were controversially denied penalties by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo.

Ancelotti's appointment has encouraged Terry, as has the fact Roman Abramovich appears to be targeting the world's top players – so the only thing left is to become European champions.

Terry, when asked what is now needed at Stamford Bridge, said: "To win the Champions League. It's a massive thing for me. With what happened in the Barca game and the final the year before that, it is still hurting. We'll work hard to do our best next year. We're being linked with players that can maybe take us to that next level. As a player at Chelsea I'm happy and delighted that we're back in for these top players. It seems that for a couple of years we haven't been, but we're linked with the best players in the world again."

Terry was referring to the likes of Kaka, David Villa and Franck Ribery but he will not be up against players of that calibre at Central Stadium in Almaty this weekend. The grass is expected to be uncomfortably long and players are still shaking off the effects of jetlag, with Terry "wandering the corridors" of his hotel two nights ahead of the qualifier.

"We like to get it down and play, quick and fast," Terry said. "The pitch is very bobbly, there were a few ricochets in training, but we'll deal with it as they have to as well. We'll have to adapt."

Terry, who had to miss the Kazakhstan win at Wembley earlier in the season through injury, added: "I was there watching the game and I was really surprised as they were really sharp and well organised. They caused us a few problems. We have to be right on our game and prepared for the unexpected. A lot of things are in their favour but we're hoping the lads will be really sharp."

For Terry, the final result in Almaty will be more important than how England get there. "If we can win the game 1-0 I will take that right now," he admitted. "The win is the important thing."