Capello seeks consistency
Wednesday, 12 August, 2009
Fabio Capello wants to turn England into a 90-minute team.
As Fabio Capello prepares to meet Holland in Amsterdam, the England Manager has admitted that making his team play well for an entire match is his next goal.
While England have an enviable record thus far in World Cup qualification, Capello sees room for improvement with longer periods of domination the next step forward.
"Sometimes we play very well for 20 minutes, then we go to sleep a little bit. At other times, we don't play with the same aggression," said Capello.
"We have to play like we do for those 20 minute spells for 90. That is a really important step.
"It is about consistency of performance. We are a really good team who must play with our own style.
"But sometimes we play against really important teams so we have to play with intelligence." One player who Capello is looking forward to seeing in an England shirt from the start is Ashley Young.
The absence of Steven Gerrard from the travelling party who flew to Amsterdam has left an opportunity for the Aston Villa winger who is expected to make his full debut.
"Every player has a different style and Ashley Young is really important because he is one of the English players who can dribble and take people on one on one," said Capello.
"He has only played twice for me. The first time it was so-so. The second he played very well.
"Now he needs the confidence to perform against one of the best national sides in the world."
Capello is also excited by the fact that Wayne Rooney has played the majority of pre-season games for Manchester United in a central role.
"Yes, I am pleased about that," said Capello.
"I don't know if he'll play the same position in the future but I am happy he plays there now.
"He is always in the centre of the action, can receive and play a lot of passes, and can score goals."
Following Wednesday's friendly England face Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday 5 September before their next World Cup qualifier with Croatia four days later. Buy tickets for both games here.
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