A firm, straight bat was needed - and Fabio Capello played just the right strokes. His final press conference before England’s crucial group match against Slovenia on Wednesday left observers with the impression that the cause could be rescued. As long as the players felt the same after their final training session, all should be well.
Alongside him, Steven Gerrard displayed some neat footwork. Asked if some players had wanted Joe Cole in the team, the captain replied that the manager picked the team. Asked about the suspect pitch at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, he at first deferred to Capello and then answered stirringly: ‘’I’ve played on worse. It’s the same for both sides and we can’t use it as an excuse.’’
Capello was also able to put dressing-room politics on the back-burner, insisting that the criticisms for which John Terry had apologised were ‘’normal’’ and that the former captain could be sure of his place in the team. ‘’He is one of our most important players,’’ he said. He will also be vital in maintaining the urgency Capello wants to see back in the ranks in their third World Cup outing.
It was noticeable that both Capello and Gerrard used the word ‘’compact’’ when summarising the approach they expected England to take into the match. Brisk, relentless, combative; all the adjectives that applied the qualifying performances weill, we trust, come back into vogue.
And so the talking is over. England have one match in which to save the Capello regime; it is no exaggeration, for the Italian would surely be gone from our shores almost as soon a defeated squad returned to them. But it was good talking while it lasted and it sustained the view that the worst may not happen.