Capello warns England against complacency

CAPE TOWN - As England woke up Saturday basking in what appears a relatively simple World Cup draw, manager Fabio Capello was already warning against complacency.

England were drawn in Group C with the US, Slovenia and Algeria in Friday’s draw, a grouping that had fans immediately checking potential second-round opponents.

But Capello, while admitting the group could have been harder, was not getting carried away.

“There are other groups that are stronger than ours but I remember when I was a player in Germany in 1974 sometimes you can think the group is easy and it will not be so,” he said.

“That is what I will tell the players - because psychologically the games you have to play in a World Cup are different to other games.

“I know from my experience as a player that when you play here the pressure is different and the mentality is different.”

England have won their last three games against the US, but famously lost to them in the 1950 World Cup in Belo Horizonte.

And Capello was there when the USA beat Spain on their way to the Confederations Cup final earlier in the year.

“The US are strong physically and technically they are good enough. I saw the game against Spain when they won and it will be no easy game.”

England beat Slovenia 2-1 in a friendly at Wembley in September. “I suffered in the second half when we played against Slovenia in September,” Capello said.

“I remember it very well. Slovenia’s style is Balkan. They are technically good, a lot of passes and imagination.”

England, meanwhile, have never faced Algeria, although they are unbeaten in three games against north African opposition at World Cups.

“There will be no easy games - Algeria will also be confident after their exploits against Egypt when they played very well,” Capello said.

“I saw only some moments of the play-off games against Egypt. I saw the goals they scored but not too much to understand much about them.

“For me it’s important to see a lot of videos of games they have played.”

England are likely to play Egypt in a warm-up friendly in March. “I think it’s a nice choice to know the style of these north African players,” Capello said.