CAPELLO: ENGLAND WILL NOT GO FOR DRAW
England head coach Fabio Capello insists that his team will not be playing for a draw when they take on World Cup qualifying opponents Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday.
The Italian has masterminded a 100 per cent success rate so far in the campaign - England top Group Six - and he is hoping to make it four out of four against the Belarusians, who he claims will be "tough opponents".
"It is a very important game for us," said the 62-year-old former Real Madrid manager. "I spoke with the players and told them that it is important to get a result as we have to wait six months for the next game.
"We are having a good moment, we have a lot of confidence, and we will be looking to get a positive result. If we win against Belarus we will be very happy because we will have won four out of four games and will have 12 points.
"We played one very strong game against Croatia away, which was important for the mind, for our confidence. And on Wednesday it will be another game that is not easy.
"I have seen three of Belarus' games and they have a good team. They drew with Argentina at home and drew with Germany so we know that it will be a very tough game.
"But I always think about the victory. I never tell the players that we are going for the draw, but that we have to win. We have to play like we played against Croatia: strong and quick.
"And it is important that we put good pressure on their players who have the ball. We don't want to play with long balls but with good movement off the ball."
Following impressive away victories over Andorra (2-0) and Croatia (4-1) last month, Capello's team romped to a 5-1 win over Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday. And he believes that there is more to come from two-goal hero Wayne Rooney, the 22-year-old Manchester United forward.
"He is a player who can play in many different positions," continued the head coach. "With [his club Manchester United] he plays on the left and the right and I thought he had a good game in Moscow [when United won the Champions League in May] when he was on the left.
"When he scored the other day playing as a second striker he looked good. I am very happy about Rooney because he is a fantastic player. We have a lot of good players in this England squad."
Capello also believed that Chelsea's Wayne Bridge, who hasn't not started a competitive game for England in over a year, will be a more than adequate replacement for the injured left-back Ashley Cole.
"I think he is the best left-back behind Ashley Cole - that is why he is in my squad," Capello added. "I saw him play his last game and I think he will be fine on Wednesday."
England head coach Fabio Capello insists that his team will not be playing for a draw when they take on World Cup qualifying opponents Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday.
The Italian has masterminded a 100 per cent success rate so far in the campaign - England top Group Six - and he is hoping to make it four out of four against the Belarusians, who he claims will be "tough opponents".
"It is a very important game for us," said the 62-year-old former Real Madrid manager. "I spoke with the players and told them that it is important to get a result as we have to wait six months for the next game.
"We are having a good moment, we have a lot of confidence, and we will be looking to get a positive result. If we win against Belarus we will be very happy because we will have won four out of four games and will have 12 points.
"We played one very strong game against Croatia away, which was important for the mind, for our confidence. And on Wednesday it will be another game that is not easy.
"I have seen three of Belarus' games and they have a good team. They drew with Argentina at home and drew with Germany so we know that it will be a very tough game.
"But I always think about the victory. I never tell the players that we are going for the draw, but that we have to win. We have to play like we played against Croatia: strong and quick.
"And it is important that we put good pressure on their players who have the ball. We don't want to play with long balls but with good movement off the ball."
Following impressive away victories over Andorra (2-0) and Croatia (4-1) last month, Capello's team romped to a 5-1 win over Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday. And he believes that there is more to come from two-goal hero Wayne Rooney, the 22-year-old Manchester United forward.
"He is a player who can play in many different positions," continued the head coach. "With [his club Manchester United] he plays on the left and the right and I thought he had a good game in Moscow [when United won the Champions League in May] when he was on the left.
"When he scored the other day playing as a second striker he looked good. I am very happy about Rooney because he is a fantastic player. We have a lot of good players in this England squad."
Capello also believed that Chelsea's Wayne Bridge, who hasn't not started a competitive game for England in over a year, will be a more than adequate replacement for the injured left-back Ashley Cole.
"I think he is the best left-back behind Ashley Cole - that is why he is in my squad," Capello added. "I saw him play his last game and I think he will be fine on Wednesday."
Labels: Belarus, England, Fabio Capello, World Cup 2010
