After a hectic start to the Premier League season attentions now turn to England who face two crucial games in five days that will set a trend for Fabio Capello’s next two years in charge of England.
Before the World Cup Fabio Capello could do no wrong. He was seen as the saviour of English football for turning around our fortunes after the disaster that was Steve McClaren’s tenure. Capello guided England to a near faultless qualification for South Africa that included a stunning 4-1 victory in Zagreb.
All was set for England to mount a challenge for the biggest prize in football. But since the turn of the year things have slowly started to go wrong for England. First there was the John Terry saga; there were then injuries to the likes of David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand before a woefully disappointing World Cup in South Africa.
The pressure was mounting on Capello and only a Steven Gerrard brace rescued the Three Lions from an embarrassing defeat against Hungary. But still England fans are unsure whether Capello is the man to take the side forward.
This makes the games against Bulgaria and Switzerland absolutely vital to Capello. Football fans are fickle and two positive results may just be the catalyst for the positive feeling to return amongst England fans. But anything less than six points and all confidence will be lost in Capello.
But if England fans are demanding six points Capello has got two very tricky games in which to deliver them. Bulgaria will be like most teams that come to Wembley and up their game accordingly, so England shouldn’t take this game lightly. Switzerland on the other hand will pose a very stern test for Capello’s side and their win over Spain at the World Cup shows just how dangerous they can be.
With England missing the likes of Terry and Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney desperately short of form the task of six points becomes a whole lot harder. However Capello has managed to pick England up once before and if he could do it again this week it may just be the end of a rocky few months.
I think Fabio Capello should be given a little more headway. He is not the one playing in the pitch, so it’s not entirely his fault if England does not do well.