Source: Eurosport
Capello Not Ready To Be Fall Guy
Fabio Capello fears he may be being built up for a monumental fall as he approaches his biggest match so far as England coach.
With an early defeat against France and last month's reverse to Euro 2008 winners Spain viewed as mere staging posts on a journey yet to run its full course, Capello has enjoyed an extended honeymoon period since replacing the ill-fated Steve McClaren era 15 months ago.
On Wednesday night at Wembley, Ukraine represent the only other unbeaten side in a Group Six campaign that has seen England reel off four straight wins.
Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand are among the senior figures in the last 48 hours alone who have hailed Capello's impact and few now question the Italian's £6million annual pay packet.
But Capello has been around too long to get duped into believing he cannot fail.
The loss of three key strikers and the late call-up of a fourth mean Capello will be relying on a fifth-choice striking option in Peter Crouch. And he is aware if England fall flat on their faces, he will be in the firing line.
"When you win, you are the best. When you lose, you are nothing. That is what it is like as a manager," he observed.
"Maybe they (the people saying nice things) are waiting for mistakes.
"What the players have said is not important. The future will decide whether Fabio Capello was a good manager or a bad one."
Good managers are defined by decisions they make in times of adversity.
When faced with the true test of his ability at the highest level, Sven-Goran Eriksson was found wanting in three successive tournament quarter-finals.
Steve McClaren did not even get that far, mistakenly placing his trust in Joleon Lescott and, catastrophically, in Scott Carson as England tumbled out of Euro 2008 thanks to defeat in must-not-lose matches against Russia and Croatia.
Capello must hope Crouch repays his faith rather more positively following the loss of Carlton Cole, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent, who pulled out after aggravating a knee injury in the pre-training warm-up.
Gabriel Agbonlahor might have been considered had he not withdrawn from under-21 duty with a hamstring strain last week. The Aston Villa man has now recovered and cleared for international duty by Martin O'Neill but with no training, will be a substitute at best.
"I have always followed Crouch, so I know him very well," revealed Capello.
"He improved when he went to Portsmouth and now he is doing very well.
"He is the best forward I can put on there, so this is a big opportunity for him."
As Crouch's is more of a goal threat than Heskey but less able to hold the ball up and bring others, specifically Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, into the game, David Beckham is being considered as an alternative to Aaron Lennon on England's right flank.
However, it is Rooney who holds the key to victory as he wins a 50th cap at the tender age of 23, especially as midfield anchor man Anatoly Tymoschuk is one of the Ukraine's star men.
With seven goals in his last four internationals, Rooney is in a rich vein of form and by finding space despite being faced with two holding midfielders at the weekend, Capello feels he is ideally placed to overcome the challenge presented by Tymoschuk tomorrow.
"Rooney is one of the best players in the world," said Capello.
"He never played for the under-21s. He jumped. Only the extra special players can do that.
"I remember when Sir Alex Ferguson bought him, I saw him at a UEFA meeting in Nyon. He said 'Fabio, I am crazy. I have just spent an awful lot of money on a very young player'.
"Now he is happy because he spent a lot of money on a very important player."
Very important player for England because he can do so many jobs, including the role Crouch will fill tomorrow. However, that is not where Capello feels Rooney is best, which is why he was not tempted to make the change.
"I don't know about goalkeeper but he could play anywhere else, but second striker is his best position because he is free," said Capello.
"He runs a lot but he also needs to touch the ball and be at the centre of the team's movement."
For all the problems up front, Capello should be at full strength in defence, with Rio Ferdinand set to partner skipper John Terry for the first time since the win over Croatia in September after overcoming the back ailment that has troubled him since Manchester United's return from the Club World Cup in December.
