Fabio Capello says England are refusing to look beyond tomorrow’s friendly with Slovenia, although he intends to field the same players for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier with Croatia.
The England head coach insists his squad are not thinking about next summer’s World Cup in South Africa, despite victory against Slaven Bilic’s team guaranteeing them a place at the finals.
“We haven’t spoken about Croatia. We had a meeting on Thursday but we spoke about [our last] game against Holland and the mistakes. On the evening before the game we will speak about Slovenia.”
Capello also hinted that he would field his strongest side in order to prepare for Croatia next week. “I have to decide the first XI,” he said. “I will have to play the players that will play against Croatia.”
Ben Foster, the Manchester United goalkeeper, was the only absentee from training after he returned to Manchester to attend the birth of his child, but he is expected to return to the squad before tomorrow’s game. Robert Green will retain his place in goal.
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“Good luck [to him]. He [Foster] will return in the evening and will be ready for the game,” Capello said. “I have to choose the goalkeeper and a lot of players.”
John Terry trained this morning, having declared himself fit to play in both matches. Capello will make a final decision on his captain later today, weighing up whether to risk him tomorrow or save him for Wednesday.
The Chelsea defender echoed his manager’s thoughts by insisting the players would not become distracted. “It’s difficult not to think about it [the Croatia match] but the manager has emphasised the game on Saturday to get the best out of Wednesday,” Terry said.
“It was a disappointing night the last time they were here [when Croatia won 3-2 and ended England’s hopes of qualifying for the 2008 European Championships] and that is in the back of our minds.
“But we don’t go in with a revenge mentality. It’s a chance to put things right where we left off last season.”
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Terry admitted he had spoken to Chelsea to discuss the implications of Fifa’s transfer ban on the club and said he had been stunned by the news.
“It was a big shock,” he said. But it is difficult for me to talk about it. I have spoken to the club last night and again this morning and they have reiterated that I can’t speak about it as they are appealing very strongly.
“It is something I can’t speak about today. They are appealing and it’s ongoing from there. Until after the appeal has gone in, or another decision has been made, I can’t say anything.”
Terry was more forthright on the issue of diving, insisting that while all players have a responsibility to stay on their feet it was unfair to hand out retrospective punishment.
“I think we all agree that Eduardo was a dive,” he said. “But I think it is important that people setting the rules put them in place and, if players break them, that these are the punishments they will face. I think it is a bit strong when a player does something and then afterwards they come out and give a punishment.
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“Do England players have an extra responsibility to stay on their feet? I think we all have a responsibility, not just the England players. But I think in our mentality, the way we have grown up and come into the game, that is not in our game at all. We come into the game to play it very fairly.
“There are going to be occasions when we’ve seen people dive but with our mentality, we are a very honest country and a very honest bunch of lads.”