World Cup Qualifer - England v Croatia:FABIO CAPELLO was ready for the brolly question. "I think the weather will be dry," he said. The manager must be convinced that nothing will be allowed to rain on his parade. England do look set to clinch a berth at the 2010 World Cup, with two fixtures to spare, by beating Croatia tonight at Wembley.
Things, all the same, can go awry. Had the national team held on to a draw with the same opponents at home, instead of conceding a third goal, they would have reached the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland. Steve McClaren’s umbrella might have gone unmentioned, unless the then manager were praised for good sense in keeping the rain out of his face so he could enjoy a clearer view of the action.
The real course of events at least had the benefit of putting the national team in the hands of a man who was already sure of a high standing in the history of the game. It is a mistake to suppose that Capello had to be cajoled into taking over a sorry set of losers. He was attracted to the post before the vacancy had quite come into being.
On the night of England’s loss to Croatia in 2007, he was taking part in Rai’s coverage of Italy’s match with the Faroe Islands. His colleague Marco Civoli told Capello on air that McClaren’s side were 2-0 down and surprised him by asking if he would like the job. “Me, the coach of England?” he said. “It would be a great test and I would be the right age.” Capello was speaking lightly and seemed to have forgotten the episode when asked about it yesterday. Nonetheless, he was not performing an act of charity when, in due course, he accepted the Football Association’s offer. The Italian referred yesterday to “the dream” of managing his side in the World Cup final.
Sceptics will regard that as a delusion more than a vision, but it would be absurd for a nation with England’s place in the history of football to assume that it must now stay permanently among the deadbeats. Had the FA really been so fatalistic it would have excused itself the mighty expense of recruiting Capello.
A perfect record in the qualifiers has made him look value for money but it is premature to suppose that another win is to be rolled out as a matter of course this evening. Croatia, it is true, have come to London in somewhat haggard condition, but they are still better than anyone else Capello’s squad have faced in competitive football.
Slaven Bilic’s team do have their anguished moments and Vedran Corluka is unavailable because he received a second caution when he delayed the taking of a free-kick in the 1-0 win over Belarus in Zagreb on Saturday.
Results have been competent for much of the time and the single harrowing outcome was the 4-1 rout by England at the Maksimir stadium last September. Croatia will want to retrieve lost honour today and they still have some means left to them.
Injuries to a few players and, in particular, to Luka Modric have handicapped the team but there is talent in the ranks. Motivation should be keen as well because Ukraine have to be kept at bay if Croatia are to get as far as the play-offs. This, in theory, is the toughest qualifier England will have encountered at Wembley under Capello. The manager has not made England fireproof yet but they have only been singed slightly under Capello. It will be interesting to find out just how forceful the Italian intends to be tonight.
Guardian Service
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