Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has expressed his "complete confidence" in Fabio Capello getting England off to a flying start in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Capello's tactics were called into question following the 2-2 draw against Czech Republic last season but Wenger expects the Italian to get it right in his first competitive matches, starting with this weekend's clash against minnows Andorra then the potentially crucial clash against Croatia next week.
Overcoming Andorra at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona has been viewed as a formality, with the real test expected to be in Zagreb against the country that defeated England twice in Euro 2008 qualifiers.Capello's tactics were called into question following the 2-2 draw against Czech Republic last season but Wenger expects the Italian to get it right in his first competitive matches, starting with this weekend's clash against minnows Andorra then the potentially crucial clash against Croatia next week.
"I have complete confidence in Capello to turn things right," Wenger told Arsenal.com. "England did not play well against the Czech Republic like we did not play against Fulham [last weekend] but it does not make Capello a bad manager.
"They have a relatively soft start against Andorra but the real test will be Croatia. So get three points first [on Saturday] and then they have nothing to lose in the next game."
Wenger's confidence is not shared by 1966 World Cup winner Martin Peters, who believes Capello needs to solve the problem of where to play Wayne Rooney.
"We've got a problem up front," he said in FourFourTwo magazine. "I don't think he (Capello) knows who to play up there with Wayne Rooney.
"I don't like seeing Rooney playing up there on his own because he gets frustrated.
"He needs a partner, but I'm not sure we've got the right players to link up with him.
"Michael Owen is a proven goalscorer, but he is injury prone and we don't know if he can play two games in a week."
By Mike McGrath, PA Sport, Barcelona
From sportinglife
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