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Capello committed to England

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Fabio Capello has reiterated his commitment to England (13/5 Top European Team in the World Cup) and has said he has no intention of leaving his post to takeover at Inter Milan.

The Italian is being heavily linked with a return to his homeland to manage the Nerazzuri after Jose Mourinho’s decision to leave after guiding them to an unprecedented treble this season.

The ‘Special One’ is now on the verge of taking over at Real Madrid meaning the hotseat at the Giuseppe Mezza is up for grabs.

Capello is just one name being linked with the post, having enjoyed a great deal of success during his time as a manager in Italy.

The 63-year-old has won the Serie A title with every team he has been a manager at, including three successive titles while with Inter’s arch rivals, AC Milan.

Despite his strong connection with AC, having been a player as well as a coach with the Rossoneri, he is still believed to be on the current European Champions’ wish-list.

However, Capello has dismissed the notion that he will be leaving his post as England (20/1 to play Italy in the final) coach, stating he is happy in his current job.

“I have a contract with the Football Association and the only way it will finish is if they decide to sack me,” said Capello.

“I see my name linked with a lot of jobs in Italy and in Spain, but I’m happy here with the FA.”

Capello has faced a number of questions about his commitment to England this week having been previously quizzed on how he would feel should the Three Lions meet Italy in the final of the World Cup.

On that occasion the former Real Madrid boss said he would be happy to see England beat Italy as he aims to continue his impressive record of winning trophies as a manager.

Capello has said he is currently focused on England as they continue their preparations for the World Cup, with the Italian just three days away from announcing who will make up his final 23-man squad.

The Three Lions face Japan (8/1 to beat England) on Sunday afternoon with Capello revealing who has made the cut in the evening.

England will then head to South Africa ahead of their first game against USA before subsequent matches against Slovenia and Algeria.

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Jose ready to get Real

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Club president Florentino Perez is convinced Jose Mourinho is the right man to take Real Madrid back to the summit of Spanish and European football (check out ante-post football betting opportunities on totesport.com).

Spain’s big-spending capital club opened the door to appointing the much-decorated Portuguese coach when they announced they had sacked Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday.

Now all that remains is for two-time Champions League winner Mourinho to resolve his contract negotiations with Internazionale before he sets about arguably the biggest task of his distinguished managerial career.

The 47-year-old is under contract in Milan until June 2012 but that is unlikely to prevent him from becoming Madrid’s 11th manager in seven years.

“The change of coach is always difficult, but we are convinced that after this first year and this first phase, now is the moment to give a fresh impulse to our project,” said Perez.

“I am absolutely convinced that the incorporation of Mourinho, who is one of the best coaches in the world – if not the best – is an opportunity that, in this Madrid, which fights permanently for excellence, we couldn’t let pass us by.”

Real have again had to play second-fiddle to great rivals and champions Barcelona this season and were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the sixth season running – despite a 250million-euro spending spree on new players this time last year.

They have now won just two major trophies in the last seven years and not even the likes of marquee signings Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso could inspire them to silverware last season

Perez acknowledged Real have lost valuable ground in the race for major honours and hopes Mourinho will restore some order.

He added: “This club demands the maximum and is always in search of excellence.

“We have reflected a lot on this season. It’s not just not winning a title. We consider that we are in a suitable moment to bet on one of the best coaches in the world, and the opportunity to bring him to the club is there.”

On paper, there appears no other candidate with the profile and magnetism of Mourinho to transform Real’s fortunes.

This season he guided Serie A giants to an unprecedented treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles.

The former Porto and Chelsea boss has made no secret of his desire to take over at the Bernabeu and all the evidence suggests his dream is about to be realised.

He met with Inter’s finance director Rinaldo Ghelfi in Milan earlier on Wednesday and afterwards told reporters: “Now I am on holiday, then I will go and work in Spain.”

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Wenger ready to sell Cesc

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Arsenal and Spain's Cesc FabregasCesc Fabregas says his future is now in the hands of Arsenal and the midfielder is just concentrating on Spain’s World Cup bid (Spain 4/1f to win the World Cup).

Speculation over the future of Fabregas has started to reach fever pitch and now for the first time, the Gunners ace has broken his silence on the matter.

Fabregas has now confirmed that a meeting did take place between himself and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger last week and reading between the lines it looks as though the Frenchman is ready to sanction the move.

The Spanish ace would not go into too much detail but it sounds as though Wenger has granted him his wish of a return to Barcelona if the Catalan giants pay the asking price and he can draft in a replacement before he leaves.

“He told me to concentrate on my football, he told me to concentrate on the World Cup, he told me to leave it in his hands, he will deal with whatever happens in my future and that’s what I’m doing, just concentrating on football,” Fabregas revealed.

“It’s not up to me any more and it’s just now about Arsenal and wherever it has to be and that’s it. I don’t want to say anything else, I just want to be focused for the World Cup because it is the most important thing – the rest is the future and I’m not interested in the future.”

Fabregas is now free to concentrate on the World Cup safe in the knowledge that Wenger will look after him. He knows that all being well, he is likely to sign for Barcelona after the South Africa showpiece.

Wenger now has the tough task of trying to find a replacement and there have already been suggestions he may try and swoop on Everton for another Spanish playmaker, Mikel Arteta.

Replacing Fabregas, like Manchester United discovered after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, will be almost impossible but Arteta has the quality to slip into the Gunners midfield.

Everton would be holding out for at least £15million but Wenger will have plenty of cash to do a deal if Fabregas goes and there will also be plenty left over to swoop for Bolton’s Gary Cahill as well.

The Gunners are 6/1 to win the Premier League next season but without Fabregas it will be a tall order unless Wenger can weave his magic in the transfer market.

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Rooney blasts injury nonsense

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England’s World Cup hopes have been handed a huge boost with the news Wayne Rooney has declared himself fit and raring to go (England 6/1 to win World Cup).

England’s chances of success in South Africa hinge on Rooney being fit and there had been suggestions he was still struggling with the ankle and groin injuries that bothered him towards the back end of last season.

The striker’s problems contributed to United’s failure to retain their Premiership crown and they could also have a devastating effect on the Three Lions if he is not on top of his game.

Rooney also picked up a neck injury against Mexico on Monday night, but he insists it is nothing serious and he will get another run out against Japan this Sunday.

“Fitness-wise I feel good,” Rooney revealed. “I have been in every training session with England since we got together. I haven’t got an ankle problem, that story’s a load of rubbish. I had a bit of a stiff neck but that should pass.

“Do players feel jaded after a long season? Of course, it’s a long season for everyone,” he stated.

“I’m quite fortunate in I haven’t trained a lot in the last six weeks. I have had a full week’s training at the England training camp in Austria and I felt good out there.

“It can sometimes be a bonus having a break during the season. Fingers crossed it will be.”

Rooney is 6/4 favourite to be England’s top goalscorer in South Africa and 10/1 to finish as the tournament’s leading marksman, with Barcelona’s David Villa 9/1 favourite.

Fabio Capello will now be hoping and praying that his side comes through this weekend’s friendly against Japan unscathed before he cuts his squad down to 23.

England are 2/7 to beat Japan in Austria but Capello will not be concerned about the result and will just be hoping nobody picks up any serious knocks.

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Guardado eyes World Cup “revelation”

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Midfielder Andres Guardado admits Mexico must deal with massive expectation levels as the Central Americans bid to qualify from Group A at the World Cup finals in South Africa (Mexico 66/1 – Tournament Outright).

‘El Tri’ have traditionally struggled to make an impact in the knockout stage of the competition and their last appearance in the quarter-finals came on home soil in 1986.

In the last four World Cups – they were banned in 1990 for fielding over-age players at the 1988 Olympic Games – Mexico have been dumped out at the round of 16 stage, but that has not stopped the country from going crazy again this time around.

And Guardado, who plies his trade in Spain for Deportivo La Coruna, has lifted the lid on just what it means to the Mexicans when they strut their stuff on the biggest stage of all.

“You try to get on with your job and put all that out of your mind but the whole country comes to a standstill whenever the national side is playing,” he told FIFA’s website.

“Sometimes other people just don’t understand the level of passion among Mexico fans. The cities are like ghost towns, every TV set is showing the Mexico game and the presenters on all the TV programmes, even the non-sports shows, are wearing Mexico shirts.

“Everyone has an opinion and obviously that creates pressure for us. Our job is to get that out of our heads and try to be calm as possible out on the pitch.”

Mexico have been drawn in Group A alongside host nation South Africa, 2006 finalists France and Uruguay.

Javier Aguirre’s men are 3/1 to top their group with Les Bleus the even-money favourites to qualify in pole position.

And Guardado concedes that the make-up of the group will make for a tough three games before Mexico can even think of the last-16 stage.

He added: “The host nation always tends to do well at the World Cup. Then there?s France, who have got players of the calibre of [Yoann] Gourcuff, [Franck] Ribery and William [Gallas].

“And even though the Uruguayans never arrive at the finals in good form they are always really tough opponents. What I’m most excited about though, is the Opening Match.

“The whole world will be watching us and I think any country would love to have that opportunity.

“I don’t like to set limits.

“There are always lots of surprises in football and though no one probably gives us much chance of getting through to the next round or the quarter-finals, we are confident we can be the revelations of the World Cup.”

Mexico continue their build-up with a friendly clash against England at Wembley on Monday night.

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Loew calls on support cast

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Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira is Germany coach Joachim Loew’s choice to replace injured captain Michael Ballack at the FIFA World Cup (Germany – World Cup 2010 Specials).

Loew has recovered from the blow of losing Ballack for the tournament and believes that Khedira is the perfect choice to partner Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger in the heart of Germany’s midfield.

“It can be assumed that Khedira is the number-one candidate for this position,” Loew told Bild.

“He has a great deal of potential and is a player who has already been given a lot of responsibility at Stuttgart.

“He also shows that he has matured.”

Khedira is a former Under-21 captain and Loew believes he can slot into the team without the Germans having to alter their formation.

“I expect other players to take over accordingly,” Loew explained. “You have got to demand that.

“Bastian Schweinsteiger will have even more responsibility, for example, and also Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker have got to exceed themselves.

“It is often the case that others step forward when a leading player drops out and this could also be the chance for other players.

“We need a reaction like that ahead of the World Cup.”

Loew has yet to answer the question as to who will take Ballack’s armband, although he has been thinking about that.

“Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger are obviously candidates, but so too is Miro Klose – he has played the most international games,” revealed Loew.

Whoever leads the team onto the field will be doing so with the usual expectations of a nation which has won the title three times.

However, Loew is not eyeing the cup this time, especially with Ballack ruled out.

“That is why we are not talking about the World Cup title,” he said.

“We have set ourselves the goal of playing a good World Cup and there is no point in building up the pressure by setting targets.

“Our first stage will be the group phase, which is going to be hard enough.”

Germany kick-off their campaign against Australia (8/15 Germany 11/4 draw 5/1 Australia – match betting) and also face Serbia and Ghana in the group.

One crucial decision Loew has yet to make is who will replace Rene Adler in goal – the German coach looks set to wait until the end of the second training camp before revealing his choice.

However, the players have already been given training equipment with a dedicated squad number and Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been confirmed as the number one.

Werder Bremen’s Tim Wiese has the number 12 and Bayern’s Hans-Jorg Butt is number 23.

However, Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff said: “The numbers don’t give any indication at all about any ranking list.”

Three players must still be trimmed from Low’s current 26-man squad before Germany jet out to South Africa on 6 June.

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Pokou plans World Cup glory

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Former Ivory Coast striker Laurent Pokou has called on Africa’s top players to produce their best form in South Africa to give the continent the best chance of success at the World Cup (Ivory Coast – World Cup 2010 Specials).

Pokou, 62, who played for the Ivory Coast for 10 years, is regarded as one of Africa’s all-time best forwards.

And he desperately wants the African players in the World Cup to replicate their club form on the big stage (6/5 Ivory Coast – Top African Team – World Cup 2010).

Until 2008, Pokou was the all-time leading scorer at the African Nations Cup – but his 14-goal tally was overtaken by Samuel Eto’o.

Pokou challenged the likes of countryman Didier Drogba and Cameroon’s forward Eto’o, both of whom will be at this summer’s World Cup finals, to show the form they have for Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.

“Comparing is not the best way and times have changed,” he told www.cafonline.com. “Today the game is a more scientific and technical game and there is more creativity.

“That is what makes the difference we are talking about. But that does not mean that players should not replicate their club performances with their national teams.

“We saw what he (Eto’o) did with Barcelona and today at Inter.

“Drogba is also doing great with Chelsea. In London, just like in Marseille, he has been exceptional.

“All these performances must be replicated with their national teams.”

The World Cup betting suggests both Ivory Coast and Cameroon are in with a chance of progressing from their groups.

Pokou, who starred in France with both Rennes and Nancy, would like to see more resources put into the local game.

“I think African football has contributed a great deal to the global game,” he continued.

“If you look at European football, there is at least one African in every club. African football is like the bread basket of world football.

“In spite of these there is still the acute lack of infrastructure and those who manage the game should be able to provide the necessary infrastructure so that children could benefit.”

And Pokou called on the African football family to unite in a bid to take the game forward.

He added: “It is not the players who are lacking but we need to do more. It does not suffice to criticise. That is why the managers, federations, players and even journalists have a responsibility to make things work.”

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Trapattoni eyes Irish win

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giovani trapattoniGiovanni Trapattoni has informed his Republic of Ireland players there is no such thing as a friendly game as they prepare to face Paraguay (9/5 to beat Ireland) at Dublin’s Showground.

The Irish can count themselves as very unfortunate not to be joining Tuesday’s South American opponents in the World Cup finals this summer, following Thierry Henry’s handball during their play-off game with France (16/1 to win the World Cup).

Ireland were on course for their first visit to a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup until Henry’s handball set up William Gallas to send the 1998 world champions to South Africa instead.

They should be preparing for the finals but Ireland will now provide the opposition for two sides who will be heading to Africa, as they face Paraguay on Tuesday followed by Algeria later on in the week.

Trapattoni has said that he hopes his players will be able to put the hurt of the play-offs behind them as they build for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

The 71-year-old Italian was full of praise for his current crop of players ahead of this week’s friendly matches and the start of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, which begins in September.

“We could see immediately we are not on holiday. They came here not on holiday,” said Trapattoni.

“I have said for the last two years, when you wear this shirt, there is no such thing as a friendly game because it’s our pride and the mentality of our country that is important. We have to build our mentality. I am not arrogant, but we are sure we have a strong team.

“Today I spoke with Marco [Tardelli, assistant manager] and we were saying this group [of players] is a great group – they showed us that against Brazil, against Italy and against France. They played better than or at the same level as those teams.”

Ireland (6/4 to qualify for Euro 2012) will fancy their chances of securing a top-two finish in their Euro 2012 group, having been drawn with Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.

Despite avoiding many of the big nations in the draw, Trapattoni believes qualification will be a big ask and has said his players need to carry some momentum into their qualifiers.

“I know the group will be difficult and we will been all our players to be fit, but I have seen many games and I think we can qualify because this group is strong,” he added.

Despite the likes of Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Aiden McGeady and Kevin Kilbane being unavailable for the visit of Paraguay, Trapattoni is set to start the game with an experienced eleven.

Skipper Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, John O’Shea, Kevin Doyle, Glen Whelan and Sean St Ledger will all start while Coventry keeper Kieran Westwood will win his fourth cap as he comes in for the injured Given.

Ireland’s preparations for the game have been overshadowed by the injury Everton youngster Shane Duffy suffered during a practice game, the 18-year-old needing life saving surgery after a horrible collision.

While Duffy remains in an intensive care unit in a Dublin hospital he has been told he will play football again, despite losing two-thirds of his blood in the accident.

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Capello seeks more aggression

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Fabio Capello wants more aggression and better ball retention from England (13/5 with totesport to be Europe’s top team at the World Cup), after seeing his team stutter to a 3-1 victory over Mexico at Wembley.

A much-changed England line-up, with the three Chelsea players given the night off, struggled for much of the first half but did take a 2-1 lead into the half-time break.

Ledley King gave the home side the lead and Peter Crouch doubled the advantage, before West Ham’s Guillermo Franco deservedly pulled a goal back for Mexico before half-time.

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson fired home a stunning long-range strike early in the second half, which proved enough to earn England the victory.

Capello insisted there were plenty of positives to take from the game, but also expected that they are several things still to work on between now and the start of the World Cup.

The Italian said: “I learned a lot about some situations on the pitch. Not only me but also the players – we have to press more to win back the ball quickly.”

Steven Gerrard (8/1 to be England’s leading scorer at the tournament) admitted that the coach had called for more combativeness at half time, after being forced to chase Mexico for long periods in the first half.

The midfielder stated: “They had too much possession in the first half, we stood off them and let them play. In the second half we got in their faces and stopped them playing. We need to be more aggressive.

Gerrard admits England need to be “able to adapt to different formations” in South Africa but insists there is still time to ’sharpen up’ before the tournament begins.

More importantly, England reported no fresh injury worries at the end of the game despite some concerns over Wayne Rooney late in the game.

The Manchester United striker, who played the full 90 minutes, hurt his neck towards the end of the friendly win but had to continue as England had made their six changes.

Capello described the knock as a “small problem” but insists he is not concerned and says Rooney “will be okay”.

Meanwhile, Ledley King insists his long-standing knee injury is not a problem after also completing the match in the heart of the England defence.

The squad will now return to Austria on Wednesday to resume their high-altitude training, and will take on Japan on Sunday in their final warm-up match.

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Tel talks up England chance

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Former England manager Terry Venables has told the current squad they need to go to South Africa believing they can win the World Cup (13/5 England – Top European Team – World Cup 2010).

Venables guided England to the semi-finals of Euro ‘96 and knows all about what it takes to succeed as a club and international manager.

And he has warned the England squad their mental approach will be one of the decisive factors in how they perform in the World Cup.

He said: “They have got to be actually thinking about winning it. People keep asking me how do I think they will do, will they reach the quarter-finals or the semi-finals?

“But they have got to be thinking about the final and then winning it. If you don’t really expect to win it, you won’t win it.

“You have got to think you are going to win as a group of players and a management team.

“I think there’s a very good chance, although you can’t see much past Spain and Brazil.

“Brazil know how to win these competitions and while it was the European Championships Spain won two years ago, a lot of the time, the European Championships are tougher than the World Cup because there are so many strong teams in Europe.”

There is much emphasis placed on the fitness of Wayne Rooney (6/4 Top England Goalscorer – World Cup 2010), who suffered a calf strain in the final Premier League game of the season against Stoke City.

But Venables says that Rooney should not be considered as England’s biggest hope.

He said: “I understand the focus on Wayne Rooney, but although he is the outstanding player, he is part of a team.

“We need all our best players, and the team the manager would like to put out, fit and in form.

“We have got Ashley Cole back, and it looks like Rio Ferdinand is going to be fit and strong.

“You need all your best players fit, and that goes for every country.”

Venables is fronting a charity competition to select England’s fantasy World Cup XI and raise funds for Everyman’s research into prostate and testicular cancer.

He said: “As you can imagine, it’s unbelievably difficult.

“When a team has won it, there’s a feeling that you can’t really go for other players outside that, but it’s about picking the strongest possible team.”

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