Fabio’s walking on water after finding right formula
FABIO CAPELLO can seemingly do no wrong. Suddenly, not even two years into the job, the Italian has at his disposal a strong 23-man squad who can all but book their flight to South Africa next summer, and probably nine members of his starting line-up who can claim shirt numbers one to eleven.
His biggest selection issue for last night surrounded the enigmatic Aaron Lennon and it took a little under nine minutes for that selection to be justified.
The first goal was always likely to be crucial and Lennon’s mazy run into the box to draw the lunge from Josip Simunic set the tone for the match. Ten minutes later and a deft ball into the box found Steven Gerrard and it was game over.
Let’s be honest, this is a shadow of the Croatia side which stormed the European qualifiers two years ago, but then, on the same token, we have grown in stature since also. Capello has thrown all talk of not playing Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in this same side completely out of the window, while the presence of Gareth Barry in between gave England a solid, yet exciting look about them.
My one question mark in this side would be Emile Heskey and the contribution he makes. I can understand why Capello picked the Villa man alongside Wayne Rooney, but this was a below-par performance from a man who missed two great chances and didn’t have the ability to work himself back into the game.
He and goalkeeper Robert Green are probably the only two looking over their shoulders right now, but with qualification now secured, Capello has the luxury of chancing his arm once again.