Fabio Capello has delivered. World Cup Qualification has been achieved with not a point dropped and two games to spare. England are the highest scorers in all European Qualifying Groups and they have clinically dispatched Croatia, their previous nemesis, with a steely ruthlessness that bodes well for the bigger tests ahead.
In just over a year, since he took over the role from the beleagured, belittled McClaren, Capello has instilled discipline and a positive, confident attitude that smacks of professionalism. What a contrast to the inept shambles of a team that he inherited which reeked of fear and was undermined by a shoddy amateurism.
The Italian could have hardly done any more in the relatively short time he has been in charge but he is extremely demanding. As a perfectionist, it galls him when his team allow their standards to drop. So even when England conceded Eduardo’s irrelevant consolation goal at Wembley he was genuinely angry, displaying his displeasure and frustration on the touchline at this lapse.
So far so good but Capello is not one to get carried away by this and it was significant to see how he reacted to the successful demolition of the nearest rivals. As soon as the game was finished he strode purposefully on to the pitch and shook hands with all the players in a business like fashion. Each player was acknowledged but there was no sense of triumphalism about it and the players were respectful. It was reminiscent of the sort of deference pupils show a schoolteacher. There is no doubt who is in control at all times.
As soon as the Croatia match has been properly digested and analysed, then the planning for South Africa will start in earnest. Capello knows there is still much to do as the evidence of the friendly games against France and especially Spain showed. England have showed that they have not shaken off some of the bad habits of the inglorious past and can still be made to look ponderous and incapable of holding the ball under pressure.
There are encouraging signs of shape and structure in the team and less reliance on individuals. Rooney, for example was not at his imperious best against the Croats, apart from a few subtle touches, but the team still looked good. England can truly be a team that plays with thought and balance, as was also witnessed in the friendly win away to Germany last year where we saw a second string side give an assured performance.
But as with all things England it is best to not get too carried away with the euphoria as, we know from bitter experience, what lies just around the corner. As masterful as Capello has been, he is not a magician and he will not necessarily be able to save us from our traditional susceptibility to the inevitability of the fall.
The last year has been about restoring the health of the patient. The signs are good but the omens are not.
