Capello says he has no plans to quit as England coach despite World Cup loss to Germany

Capello has no plans to quit after England loss

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Fabio Capello has no plans to quit as coach despite overseeing England’s most lopsided World Cup defeat.

England lost 4-1 to Germany on Sunday in a second-round match during which its defense was badly exposed.

Capello said he wanted to discuss his future with Football Association chairman Roger Burden soon, but the 64-year-old Italian made it clear he had no immediate plans to resign.

“We have time to decide,” Capello said. “I need to know whether the FA have confidence in me or not … I want to speak with the chairman and then we can decide my future.”

In early June, the Capello signaled his desire to remain with England by signing a deal with the FA that removed an escape clause that could have let him leave after the World Cup.

Capello, who has coached Real Madrid and AC Milan, took over the England squad in January 2008 after Steve McClaren was fired for failing to qualify England for the 2008 European Championship.

Capello quickly transformed the England squad, imposing strict discipline and a no-nonsense approach. England’s players responded, and the team breezed through World Cup qualifying by winning nine of 10 games.

Frank Lampard, who thought he’d scored an equalizer before halftime but was not awarded a goal against Germany, sought to play down speculation about Capello’s future. Lampard said debate over a coach’s fate is routine after a dramatic World Cup exit.

“At the end of the day, when an England team gets knocked out of the World Cup there’s question marks about managers and old players,” said Lampard, who described Capello as a “top manager.”

Captain Steven Gerrard also supported keeping Capello at the helm.

“I’d like him to stay because I think he’s a fantastic manager,” Gerrard said. “I’m sure he’ll address his own situation very soon.”

Capello’s current contract runs through the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.