‘Battered’ Capello says this is not the England team ‘he knows’

LONDON - England coach Fabio Capello was at a loss to explain his team’s goalless draw against Algeria, ranked 30th in the world.

Capello reminded his players that they can still progress, and even top the group, as his main task now appears to be repairing battered confidence of the team.

“The pressure of the World Cup does not help, probably. These players train very well and at a fast speed but they were not the same team that I know in these two games,” The Guardian quoted Capello, as saying.

“I told the players in the dressing room that they have another chance on Wednesday, and we are really lucky with that. We have a big chance because the USA drew. But I hope to see the England team on Wednesday. This is not the England team I know,” he said.

“I remember when I started as England manager, I saw the same things when we played at Wembley.I hope, when we play the next game, we forget this performance and we forget to play with fear and without confidence.

“It’s incredible, the mistakes of the players. When they can’t control the ball or miss easy passes … we missed everything. This is incredible given the level of the England players. The pressure is so big because the performance of the players was not as I know,” Capello said.

Concerned over ace striker Wayne Rooney’s form, Capello said: “Rooney didn’t play like Rooney. I can change the tactics; I will try to do something different. But we know what we have to do.

“Sometimes after one big performance, the minds of the players will be free and then we can play like England. Like the England that I know. This is really important,” he added. (ANI)