Capello gives England lift as Ferdinand insists only winning will satisfy squad

FABIO CAPELLO has provided England with the perfect World Cup boost by committing his future to the team until after Euro 2012.

Capello's future had been the subject of intense speculation over the last few days after Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti admitted the 63-year-old was at the top of his shortlist to replace the departed treble-winning coach Jose Mourinho.

With a 9m-a-year salary on offer, a 50 per cent increase on Capello's present annual salary from the Football Association, it had been suggested the former AC Milan coach was being tempted.

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However, having previously reached a verbal agreement with former FA chairman Lord Triesman to stay until after the next European Championships, by removing a clause in his current four-year deal that would allow either the Italian or his employers to activate a break following this summer's World Cup, Capello has indicated he was willing to stay.

He stuck to his mantra over the weekend, insisting he had not spoken to anyone at Inter about their vacancy.

Aware of the difficulty they had suddenly been placed in just before Capello and his players embark on their World Cup odyssey, the FA said privately they were eager to get the matter resolved before the England team flew out to their Rustenberg base last night.

And, a matter of hours before Capello and his 23 players departed, the FA released the statement that allows everyone involved in the national team to breathe a large sigh of relief.

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"The FA can confirm that Fabio Capello is committed to managing the England team until the 2012 European Championship," said the statement.

"An amendment to his employment contract was signed and exchanged (yesterday), with break clause options for both the FA and Fabio being removed."

Club England chairman Sir Dave Richards had a telephone conversation with Capello on Monday while the coach was at his mother's home in Italy, reassuring him that the FA were fully supportive of the work he has done since replacing Steve McClaren in December 2007.

There was no circumstance under which the FA could envisage removing Capello from his post after the World Cup and they were keen for him to stay for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, which begins against Bulgaria in September.

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As the team prepared to depart, captain Rio Ferdinand said Capello's side will be content with nothing less than winning the trophy.

Ferdinand acknowledges that England still have plenty of work to do before they face the United States in their opening game on June 12.

Ferdinand, featuring in his fourth World Cup finals, said: "The message when we fly to South Africa is that we are going to be doing our utmost to bring the World Cup back.

"We are not out there to finish second, we are not out there to make the semi-finals and think 'we've done a good job because we have got past the quarter-finals.'

"We are there to go and win it. That is what the build-up has all been about, preparing right, recuperating after training, recuperating after games properly."