I don’t think anyone saw this coming – Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher could be on the verge of a return to the international scene just in time for World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
Showing posts with label Fabio Capello. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fabio Capello. Show all posts
21/04/2010
Beckham in line for World Cup role while doubts grow over Essien
David Beckham will probably travel to South Africa with the England squad for World Cup 2010, it was announced this morning. Everything hinges on a meeting with the surgeon who recently repaired the damage to the player’s torn tendon. The necessary facilities for Beckham’s continued rehabilitation also need to be in place before he can travel.
06/04/2010
Rooney to play against Bayern?
It’s a rumour which first surfaced on Monday and hasn’t gone away yet. Has Wayne Rooney miraculously recovered in time to line up for Man United in the crucial Champions League quarter final against Bayern Munich? England fans contemplating the World Cup are advised to look away now.
04/03/2010
Crouch makes convincing case for World Cup place
Peter Crouch came off the bench last night to give England victory over Egypt. Two second half goals took the Tottenham striker’s England tally to 20 in 37 games. More importantly, the first gave England a springboard for success in a World Cup warm up which had threatened to go the way of a skillful Egyptian side. So what have the papers got to say this morning?
19/09/2009
No pre-tournament party for Capello’s England
In another welcome move England players have reportedly cancelled their pre-World Cup party, according to one of today’s papers.
The news follows a crackdown on the WAGs, the wives and girlfriends who traditionally accompany players during the tournament.
According to The Times the days of David Beckham hosting lavish parties at “Beckingham Palace” in Hertfordshire are over.
The paper says that “will be very welcome news for Capello. The England manager dislikes extracurricular distractions, with the players spending far more time in their hotel rooms while on international duty under the disciplinarian.”
Capello has already said he will “limit the number of visits from the WAGs in South Africa next summer.”
“We are there to play football, not for a holiday,” Capello said.
The only risk now is the trouble the WAGs might get up to if left unattended. At least the players distracted their attention; left to their own devices, the shopping and partying junkies might actually cause more off-field problems.
The news follows a crackdown on the WAGs, the wives and girlfriends who traditionally accompany players during the tournament.
According to The Times the days of David Beckham hosting lavish parties at “Beckingham Palace” in Hertfordshire are over.
The paper says that “will be very welcome news for Capello. The England manager dislikes extracurricular distractions, with the players spending far more time in their hotel rooms while on international duty under the disciplinarian.”
Capello has already said he will “limit the number of visits from the WAGs in South Africa next summer.”
“We are there to play football, not for a holiday,” Capello said.
The only risk now is the trouble the WAGs might get up to if left unattended. At least the players distracted their attention; left to their own devices, the shopping and partying junkies might actually cause more off-field problems.
18/09/2009
South Africa to welcome England football fans
Businesses which benefited from the recent Lions tour are now ready to lay out the red carpet for England fans next year, according to the AFP news agency.
The report quotes a businessman and a tourism director who are both looking forward to the atmosphere and the cash generated by followers of Fabio Capello’s team.
Latest estimates say the World Cup is expected to boost the South African economy by 55.7billion Rand (GBP £5b), generate 415,400 jobs and hand the government a 19.3billion Rand (GBP £1.6b) tax bonus.
Nearly 500,000 football tourists are expected to spend 8.5billion Rand during the month-long championship in June and July.
Andre Malan is one of the businessmen hoping some of this cash is spent in his restaurant and bar.
He helped look after 6,000 rugby fans on match day when the touring British and Irish Lions tour took on the Springboks in June.
Now he wants to extend a similar welcome to football fans. “I think everyone says they would definitely want them [England] at their stadium. They've got the largest following of supporters,” said the manager of the Eastwoods Tavern in Pretoria.
Mark Williams, South African tourism director for the United Kingdom and United States, is equally enthusiastic.
“When the Lions tour came to South Africa, there were close to 40,000 Brits or English that came out to South Africa and spent a billion rand."
"So from a football perspective, hopefully it will be a bit more and hopefully they will spend a bit more."
“It's a fantastic atmosphere,” added Andre Malan. “These guys when they come out, they come in large numbers. Obviously beer is high on the priority list for them. They eat a lot and drink a lot.”
South Africa appears ready to give England fans the essentials!
The report quotes a businessman and a tourism director who are both looking forward to the atmosphere and the cash generated by followers of Fabio Capello’s team.
Latest estimates say the World Cup is expected to boost the South African economy by 55.7billion Rand (GBP £5b), generate 415,400 jobs and hand the government a 19.3billion Rand (GBP £1.6b) tax bonus.
Nearly 500,000 football tourists are expected to spend 8.5billion Rand during the month-long championship in June and July.
Andre Malan is one of the businessmen hoping some of this cash is spent in his restaurant and bar.
He helped look after 6,000 rugby fans on match day when the touring British and Irish Lions tour took on the Springboks in June.
Now he wants to extend a similar welcome to football fans. “I think everyone says they would definitely want them [England] at their stadium. They've got the largest following of supporters,” said the manager of the Eastwoods Tavern in Pretoria.
Mark Williams, South African tourism director for the United Kingdom and United States, is equally enthusiastic.
“When the Lions tour came to South Africa, there were close to 40,000 Brits or English that came out to South Africa and spent a billion rand."
"So from a football perspective, hopefully it will be a bit more and hopefully they will spend a bit more."
“It's a fantastic atmosphere,” added Andre Malan. “These guys when they come out, they come in large numbers. Obviously beer is high on the priority list for them. They eat a lot and drink a lot.”
South Africa appears ready to give England fans the essentials!
17/09/2009
Speculation about likely World Cup bases
A Reuters report out today about World Cup bases makes for interesting reading, not least because some of the teams mentioned haven’t yet qualified and may not even do so.
According to this report France, Sweden and Paraguay have set up coastal bases, despite the South Americans being the only one of the three to have secured qualification.
The French have apparently booked a facility on the southern Cape coast. Coach Raymond Domenech must be thinking the play offs are an inconvenient but easily surmountable barrier.
Other teams looking ahead include Sweden, who have booked in at Durban, and Argentina, Germany, Italy, Mexico and the USA, who have all booked hotels or guest lodges in Pretoria.
Japan and Switzerland are heading for Johannesburg. Japan have already qualified, but the Swiss may not make even make the play offs.
England will allegedly be based at Sun City, although Fabio Capello and his team will probably wait for the draw in December before deciding on the location of their base for the tournament.
According to this report France, Sweden and Paraguay have set up coastal bases, despite the South Americans being the only one of the three to have secured qualification.
The French have apparently booked a facility on the southern Cape coast. Coach Raymond Domenech must be thinking the play offs are an inconvenient but easily surmountable barrier.
Other teams looking ahead include Sweden, who have booked in at Durban, and Argentina, Germany, Italy, Mexico and the USA, who have all booked hotels or guest lodges in Pretoria.
Japan and Switzerland are heading for Johannesburg. Japan have already qualified, but the Swiss may not make even make the play offs.
England will allegedly be based at Sun City, although Fabio Capello and his team will probably wait for the draw in December before deciding on the location of their base for the tournament.
14/09/2009
For England in 2010 see Watford in 1984, apparently
So Fabio Capello says getting to the World Cup Final is an “aspiration” for him.
“Playing in the final would be success,” said Capello over the weekend. “For now, playing in it will do, rather than winning it. But if people are asking me what my aspiration is, then it is to reach the final.”
There are any number of problems with this statement. Let’s start with the obvious. His job is to win football matches and tournaments. That’s what the FA pay him for. Unless I'm misreading the situation, this means winning games up to and including the World Cup Final.
Of course reaching the final would be a significant accomplishment or even an amazing achievement. What it would not be is success. Success goes to the winners.
As for “playing in it will do” as opposed to “winning it”, pardon me if I don’t wonder what is going on in the man’s head. Merely days after securing qualification he appears content with not actually winning. Playing is good enough, apparently.
No it isn’t. Here’s why.
In 1984 Elton John’s Watford reached the FA Cup Final. They were delighted to have done so and told everybody they would enjoy the day.
The team they would play were mystified by this attitude. Everton players subsequently went on the record to make clear their attitude to the final – they wanted to win.
For a serial winner of La Liga and Serie A, the latter as player and manager, to come out with such statements is worrying.
Come on, Capello. Clear this up. Either you want to win next summer or you don’t.
“Playing in the final would be success,” said Capello over the weekend. “For now, playing in it will do, rather than winning it. But if people are asking me what my aspiration is, then it is to reach the final.”
There are any number of problems with this statement. Let’s start with the obvious. His job is to win football matches and tournaments. That’s what the FA pay him for. Unless I'm misreading the situation, this means winning games up to and including the World Cup Final.
Of course reaching the final would be a significant accomplishment or even an amazing achievement. What it would not be is success. Success goes to the winners.
As for “playing in it will do” as opposed to “winning it”, pardon me if I don’t wonder what is going on in the man’s head. Merely days after securing qualification he appears content with not actually winning. Playing is good enough, apparently.
No it isn’t. Here’s why.
In 1984 Elton John’s Watford reached the FA Cup Final. They were delighted to have done so and told everybody they would enjoy the day.
The team they would play were mystified by this attitude. Everton players subsequently went on the record to make clear their attitude to the final – they wanted to win.
For a serial winner of La Liga and Serie A, the latter as player and manager, to come out with such statements is worrying.
Come on, Capello. Clear this up. Either you want to win next summer or you don’t.
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