Source: Eurosport
Spain can rule the world - Capello
Fabio Capello believes European champions Spain can win the 2010 World Cup, having seen them beat his England side 2-0 in Seville on Wednesday.It was approaching midnight when England completed their friendly with Spain, and at times Capello felt the Euro 2008 winners were playing as though they were doing it in their sleep.Although there were some moments of encouragement for Capello, ultimately Spain were just too good.Goals from David Villa (36) and Fernando Llorente (82) did the damage, and Capello could only admire the way Spain went about their task."Spain play with the same style and the same players that won Euro 2008," reflected Capello."They play very naturally because they know each other so well. It is almost as though they are playing from memory."They wait when they have got possession and they punish you as soon as you make a mistake."Without doubt, they are one of the teams who could win the World Cup."The result cast a shadow on David Beckham's momentous evening.Beckham's introduction as a half-time replacement for Stewart Downing allowed him to move level with Bobby Moore as England's most capped outfield player.He is set to eclipse that mark in the friendly against Slovakia next month.But Capello does not feel it was a night for celebration."I think he will be disappointed that he got the record but we lost," said Capello."I would have been more happy if we had won but I am happy for him."Although he made a positive contribution, Beckham also picked up a yellow card for dissent after Glen Johnson had been penalised for a foul.The 33-year-old continued his protests, although he at least managed to avoid further punishment.Beckham's frustration was easy enough to understand.David Villa had already taken full advantage of Phil Jagielka's wayward pass to put Spain in front, nipping past the Everton man as he tried to atone for his error on his first England start.There was worse to come eight minutes from time when Xavi curled a free-kick invitingly into the path of Fernando Llorente for the home side's second.Capello now has six weeks to before his side gets together again for the Slovakia encounter on March 28 before the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine at Wembley four days later."I am not happy because we lost but I understand a lot for the future," reflected the Italian."I understand about the movement of the players and I understand what we are like when we play against a team with Spain's style. This is very important."We can play the same style but we have to play to the style of the players we have got at this time."Although Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick failed to match the performance they produced against Germany last November, Capello recognises Spain are a class apart at present.And he feels Barry and Carrick, plus Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who was missing through injury, need to emulate the Spanish engine room."Spain has one of the best midfields in the world," said Capello."They are very good at keeping possession and at the same time they move the ball around. They created chances tonight but so did we."The main thing is I picked a few things up for the next game when we are playing for World Cup qualification."[LNB]
