Capello blunder leaves question mark over captaincy once again

ONLY Fabio Capello could turn what should have been a morale-boosting victory for England into another debate about his apparently muddled thinking.

That is exactly what the Italian has managed to do via his decision to release from international duty captain John Terry and four other members of the side that beat Wales to return to the top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group G.

Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney and Yorkshire-born Michael Dawson are the other four players who will watch tomorrow’s friendly against Ghana at Wembley from the comfort of their own homes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The move is a clear effort to curry favour with Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti, Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp due to the trio of clubs being back in Champions League quarter-final action next week.

But, coming after a tumultuous fortnight in which Capello’s handling of giving the captaincy back to Terry ahead of Rio Ferdinand came in for huge criticism, it smacks of an own goal on the part of the Three Lions manager.

Not only has the decision switched the focus away from England’s 2-0 win but it also brings into question the thinking of a manager who should be waking up this morning to positive headlines.

If Capello’s intention all along was to rest Terry for the Ghana friendly then why, his critics are asking, make such a fuss about making the Chelsea defender his “permanent” captain in the first place?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the England manager set to make 11 changes for the visit of the Africans to Wembley, it also begs the question as to who will don the armband tomorrow night.

Gareth Barry appears favourite, having captained the side for part of last month’s friendly in Denmark. The Manchester City midfielder also did the job for the second half against Trinidad and Tobago in 2008.

Whoever is handed the honour, however, it seems that Capello has managed to turn what should have been a positive weekend for the Three Lions into another mess.

On the field, at least, the England manager did emerge with credit for the manner in which his side performed after switching formation away from the 4-4-2 that had looked so dated at the World Cup.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With Darren Bent flanked by Wayne Rooney on the left and Ashley Young on the right, the Three Lions made light work of an admittedly poor Welsh outfit to clinch all three points.

Frank Lampard’s penalty and Bent’s tap-in inside the opening quarter of an hour were enough to settle the game and new captain Terry felt Capello deserved huge credit for a tactical switch that caught the home side cold.

He said: “He (Capello) might chop and change the formation but when he put it up (before the game), everyone felt a very positive vibe around the dressing room.

“It was very attacking from the manager and we were very up for the game. We worked on it a little bit in the week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We played 4-3-3, pressed them hard up the field, which we worked on in the week, and made it difficult for them to play out from the back, and caused them problems.

“We are capable of playing a lot of different formations, and the manager chooses which one on the day.”

The win was enough for England to leapfrog Montenegro into pole position on goal difference at the halfway stage of qualification.

With Bulgaria and Switzerland drawing 0-0 in Sofia, Group G has been reduced to a two-way fight for top spot with England’s visit to Belgrade on October 7 shaping up to be the decider.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Terry added: “It wasn’t a case of being out to shut people up (after the recent criticism).

“We are out there to win the game and play for our country.

“We are very honoured to do that and were very honoured to walk away from a tough game with three points.”

After the furore of the build-up to the trip to the Millennium Stadium, Terry was understandably keen to play down his return as captain and concentrate instead on England’s performance.

He said: “Once again I am very proud to lead the side. It is a great feeling to play for England, let alone captain the side so I am delighted.

“But the game was not about myself and the armband.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There were some real positives to come out of it again. Ashley Young, I thought again was superb, Scott Parker and young Jack Wilshere also did well.”

Terry was joined at the heart of the defence by Dawson, who again produced a decent display when deputising for the injured Ferdinand.

The 27-year-old was handed a start ahead of former Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott, and Terry thought the Spurs man “made the position his own”.

England’s captain said: “There is a lot of competition at centre-back but Michael has made the position his own really.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the Champions League he has been really good for Tottenham this season and maybe that is the key for him as well.

“Playing in the big competitions against the big players can only help anyone as a player.

“Michael has certainly done well in the last couple of games for England.”

Capello’s decision to release Terry from international duty after just one game back as captain apart, there was only one other blemish on the weekend for England with Wayne Rooney collecting a booking that rules him out of the next qualifier at home to the Swiss on June 4.