For Fabio Capello, the World Cup is the final frontier. Continued success is a rarity in few walks of life. If the biggest international tournament is discounted, Capello has enjoyed it. As a player, he represented three major clubs ? Roma, Juventus and AC Milan ? and won major silverware with all. He managed them all as well, winning Serie A for each. In addition, two spells in Spain brought two titles at Real Madrid. And, for Milan, he won the Champions League.
It is only the World Cup that has been an anti-climax. For much of his managerial career, Capello has emulated his exploits as a player. Now the fear is history will repeat itself again. In 1974, Capello's Italy team were among the favourites. In a campaign notable for backbiting, in-fighting and dissent, they left the competition in the group stages, incurring the wrath of their supporters. And now? The parallels are unfortunate, from stumbling against lesser opponents (Haiti then, Algeria now) to unhappy players supplying news as well as sport stories.
Thirty-six years ago, Giorgio Chinaglia directed a two-fingered salute at an Italian manager, Ferruccio Valcareggi. Now the opposition has come in the form of interviews given by John Terry, making public a grievance. The insurrection was duly crushed, Capello highlighting Terry's "big mistake". He brooks no authority other than his own. His long-standing nickname, "Don Fabio", could indicate a respected elder or a ruthless Mafioso. It is hard to say which England require more. Player power benefited England in the 1990 World Cup, but it certainly has not during the last decade.
In any case, Capello was not appointed to govern by democracy. The man with right-wing politics is a natural dictator. And until he arrived in South Africa, his way had been proved the right way. Now, however, the jury is out. There is little doubt that many agree with Terry about the talents of Joe Cole, who has been ignored thus far. Were opinion to be canvassed, among supporters or, in all probability, players, Wayne Rooney would lead the line with Steven Gerrard adopting his Liverpool position as the supplementary striker.
Capello, however, appears wedded to the 4-4-2 formation. Even if the dependable Emile Heskey is jettisoned, it seems that the system will be retained with either Jermain Defoe or Peter Crouch stepping in. The long ball, the English disease, has been seen rather too often thus far. Many covet an attempt at a continental-style passing game. Both tactics and team selection are attracting ever-greater scrutiny.
Criticism of his methods, whether his policy of naming the side two hours before kick-off or England's allegedly fun-free training camp, is rather less relevant. Capello has tended to have the ultimate answer: results. Now he needs another. Even among those who cannot be characterised as complacent, the assumption was that the group presented comparatively few problems for England. The United States and Algeria have held them. The performance against the Desert Foxes was far worse than the result indicated.
Now a victory and some semblance of style are required against Slovenia. Should England exit the competition, their final opponents are likely to be described as a nation of two million skiers. It is a simplification, as the manager should know. For Capello, this almost counts as a local derby. He was born in San Canzian d'Isonzo, near what is now the border with Slovenia. The worst-case scenario is that next time he visits his elderly mother in the small town of Pieris, in the flat where he grew up, he may be spending more time rather nearer Slovenia than England.
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Slovenia (4 points, +1 goal difference) The group leaders Slovenia need a draw against England to qualify for the knockout stages and even a defeat would do if the United States and Algeria draw in Pretoria. United States (2 point, 0 goals) The Americans will go through if they defeat Algeria. A draw might be enough, providing they stay ahead of England on goals scored England (2 points, 0 goals) England have to win unless the Pretoria match finishes level, in which case a high-scoring draw might do if England finishes with more group goals than the US, which currently leads 3-1. Algeria (1 point, -1 goal) The North Africans, who are bottom of the group, must win by two goals to be certain of advancing.
