Int Football - Capello: Spain can rule the world

Eurosport - Thu, 12 Feb 11:29:00 2009

Fabio Capello believes European champions Spain can win the 2010 World Cup, having seen them beat his England side 2-0 in Seville.

2008-2009 England Fabio Capello - 0

Goals from David Villa (36) and Fernando Llorente (82) did the damage, and Capello could only admire the way Spain went about their task.

"Spain played with the same style and the same players that won Euro 2008," reflected Capello.

"They played very naturally because they know each other so well. It is almost as though they are playing from memory.

"They waitwhen they get possession and they punish you as soon as you make a mistake.

"Without doubt, they are one of the teams who could win the World Cup."

The result cast a shadow on David Beckham's momentous evening.

Beckham's introduction as a half-time replacement for Stewart Downing allowed him to move level with Bobby Moore as England's most capped outfield player.

He is set to eclipse that mark in the friendly against Slovakia next month.

But Capello does not feel it was a night for celebration.

"I think he will be disappointed that he got the record but we lost," said Capello.

"I would have been more happy if we had won but I am happy for him."

Although he made a positive contribution, Beckham also picked up a yellow card for dissent after Glen Johnson had been penalised for a foul.

The 33-year-old continued his protests, although he at least managed to avoid further punishment.

Beckham's frustration was easy enough to understand.

David Villa had already taken full advantage of Phil Jagielka's wayward pass to put Spain in front, nipping past the Everton man as he tried to atone for his error on his first England start.

There was worse to come eight minutes from time when Xavi curled a free-kick invitingly into the path of Fernando Llorente for the home side's second.

Capello now has six weeks to before his side gets together again for the Slovakia encounter on March 28 before the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine at Wembley four days later.

"I am not happy because we lost but I understand a lot for the future," reflected the Italian.

"I understand about the movement of the players and I understand what we are like when we play against a team with Spain's style. This is very important.

"We can play the same style but we have to play to the style of the players we have got at this time."

Although Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick failed to match the performance they produced against Germany last November, Capello recognises Spain are a class apart at present.

And he feels Barry and Carrick, plus Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who was missing through injury, need to emulate the Spanish engine room.

"Spain has one of the best midfields in the world," said Capello.

"They are very good at keeping possession and at the same time they move the ball around. They created chances tonight but so did we.

"The main thing is I picked a few things up for the next game when we are playing for World Cup qualification."

TeamTalk / Eurosport

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  1. post 6, if you had more players like Beckham you would­ loose more game thanks to some idiotic whining­ resulting in booking! They should play with their­ hearts, but keeps their mouths shut. Anyway, there is­ not enough
    talent to beat any of the best teams no­ matter how hard the players play, but you can always­ dream and @#$% at
    them when they loose.

    From Patrick F, on Thu 12 Feb 2:25PM
  2. Yes, As say "Robert O", Spain did not a very­ good match yesterday, perharps because it was a­ friendly match... Anyway, were moments of good football­ in Spain´team, and England was not very powerful to­ beat Spain´s goalkeeper in the few moments that they­ had...

    From Jose, on Thu 12 Feb 10:59AM
  3. capello should watch it.

    From chuks c, on Thu 12 Feb 10:11AM
  4. Rooney been missed dearly...but the team will get­ better they got great players with great manager ...as­ for the goalkeeper i think green should take the post­ james s finished

    From Mr.Geo, on Thu 12 Feb 10:06AM
  5. We need 11 players with Beckhams desire he let his­ feelings known about the free kick against Johnson­ knowing he would be booked but he saw an injustice,­ Terry just looked on!!! 11 players with rooneys skill­ beckhams desire we might be in with a chance.

    From GARETH, on Thu 12 Feb 9:20AM
  6. bkmotsepe:spainish soccer rule, they play total soccer,­ not that­ boring tipical english soccer. IT IS­ FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!

    From mah.asmar, on Thu 12 Feb 9:20AM
  7. I am not a fan of Mourinho but he makes his teams play­ to their exact strenght. He will not play a passing­ game against spain if he is the manager. The english­ players are not as as technically gifted as the­ spaniards. Germany in the 1st 20-30mins of the Euro­ finals showed how spain should be played. Hard work,­ pressing defence, closing down of spaces is the way to­ go. In offense, spain do not have runners in midfield­ i.e. there is no particular speedy player so no player­ actually carry/run with the ball instead they rely on­ creating spaces for passes, this can be capitalised on­ if spaces are closed down. There are gaps behind the­ fullbacks that very fast wingers can exploit e.g. a­ Walcott. With fast wingers, their fullbacks would be­ busy defending instead of being midfielders. And the­ spaniards are relatively short.
    Remember the Greeks in­ Euro 2004? Spain would have had problems playing­ them.
    I still remain a fan of Spain though and want­ them to win the World Cup. Infact I felt yesterday was­ one of Spain's worst performances in recent times.­ They can play much better.

    From Robert O, on Thu 12 Feb 9:16AM
  8. spainish soccer rule, they play total soccer, not that­ boring tipical english soccer

    From BAKANG, on Thu 12 Feb 9:15AM
  9. The day English players do their best for the national­ team, England would be playing better than Spain. But­ that day is less realistic than the day Chinese drop­ using Soy sauce in their meals

    From Half A Brain, on Thu 12 Feb 8:54AM
  10. stevie was much needed to counter the spanish play n he­ can shoot anytime

    From , on Thu 12 Feb 8:49AM
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