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Big Test Looming for Capello |
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
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At the verge of an important friendly game against France, England coach Fabio Capello is requiring that the team restore pride to the national team. Taking over after Steve McClaren’s dismissal, he has since gave former captain David Beckham his 100th cap at the Stade de France. Following up after England’s win against Switzerland one month ago, he is lining up his team for another friendly with Rio Ferdinand given captaincy. He wants more from his player one can tell that as serious as this can get, “We're all on trial, not just the players. We need to get back to being a great team that plays openly against any opponent. It's not about being on trial, but about the pride of wearing the shirt.” Giving Beckham his 100th cap means that he will become only the fifth player in England’s history to have played to a century mark and most likely to come in as a sub for David Bentley. Capello believe that Beckham will go on and break the 108 record held by Bobby Moore. Beckham who used to play under Capello in Real Madrid believe that Beckham will surpass that record by going all the way to the World Cup in 2010. he said that “The David Beckham I know can certainly get to 2010 if he carries on training and working hard. I know what he can give me and I think he can make the difference in some respects. As for the future, we will have to see. Nobody knows what the future holds. But I've managed him previously and he's always been a very good professional. Only people who are so professional can last and be at the top for so long.' At this moment of time, Fabio Capello is making tests and trials on various combinations that could make the cut when the qualifiers come about. No one can be discounted from the team as of now, not even Michael Owen although his scoring instincts seemed to have deluded him for a while. “All the players are important players but it depends on the type of game it is who's best. At the moment I'm experimenting and I'm trying to see how I can make the team play and what choices I can make. It's certainly going to be our hardest match because France are a good team and we're playing at the Stade de France, where there will be a good atmosphere. It will be a very good test.”
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