Confidence the key for Capello

Fabio Capello’s first task when he took over as England manager was to restore shattered confidence. Twelve months on it is, without doubt, mission accomplished.

It was not just the 2–1 victory over Germany in Berlin last night that confirmed the Italian had achieved his objective. The manner of it was equally emphatic.

Gone are the stuttering, hesitant, clueless performances of the Steve McClaren era. In their place there is calmness and precision.

Capello has devised a system. The players are carrying it out.

“When I started this job I said we had to recover the confidence,” he said.

“The players who have been with us understand this. We can see it during the game and in training. We are very pleased.”

So pleased in fact, Capello admitted his first year in charge could not have gone any better.

Since that dismal night at Wembley when McClaren presided over England’s exit from Euro 2008, the Three Lions have roared seven times, drawn once and been sent packing just once, by France in Paris last March.

“I think it is impossible to be better than this,” he said. “We have played nine games and after every one I said the players had taken another step forward. Today is another one.

“The players played very well. They played like a team. That was very important.”

Matthew Upson put England ahead with his first international goal midway through the first–half after home keeper Rene Adler failed to connect with a punch aimed at Stewart Downing’s curling cross.

After bouncing off Gabriel Agbonlahor, who had an outstanding debut, the loose ball lobbed invitingly for Upson, who bundled home from close range.

By that point England were well on top and seemed set to stroll home, only for Darren Bent to miss a second–half sitter, followed almost immediately by the collective failure of Scott Carson and John Terry to snuff out the minimal danger posed by a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Their hesitation allowed Patrick Hermes to tap home the simplest of equalisers.

When Shaun Wright–Phillips, who was also outstanding, belted a shot against a post nine minutes from time, it seemed England would have to settle for a draw.

But Terry rose highest on the next attack to steer home Downing’s free–kick and send 7,000 visiting fans into raptures.

Capello brushed off Germany’s comical equaliser, although he will not be wanting a repeat when England tackle Spain in their next friendly in February.

Equally, he was reluctant to heap too much praise on Agbonlahor’s shoulders, despite the impression the Aston Villa striker made.

“Gabriel did very well,” said Capello. “He used space and his movement was excellent.

“He gave us balance when we went forward and when we defended. But I don’t like to speak about one player because the whole performance was so good.”