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Capello Still Enjoying 'Dream Job'
Fabio Capello insists managing England is still his dream job despite all the flak that has been flying in his direction.
Capello answered his many critics in the best possible manner on Friday night as England emerged from their World Cup hell to demolish Bulgaria at Wembley and get their Euro 2012 campaign off to a perfect start.
Much stiffer challenges lie ahead, not least on Tuesday when the Three Lions head to Basle and a meeting with a Switzerland team that were good enough to beat eventual winners Spain in South Africa.
Only then will Capello - and a sceptical public - have an idea about England's likely progress towards the finals in Poland and the Ukraine, and whether the Italian will be allowed to get on with his jobs free from the shackles of the past.
Yet, after taking up his £6million-a-year job with such enthusiasm almost three years ago, Capello is adamant his thirst for the task remains undimmed.
"It is still the dream job," he said.
"I have a lot of passion and I am a fighter. I always need to fight. That is my mentality. It is my life.
"This is a fantastic job and I still have confidence in this team.
"And I think we can improve."
In truth, Capello would not have constructed his impressive CV had he not been able to rise above adversity, secure in the knowledge his way is best.
It is not always that way but the key is to learn and adapt to changing circumstances, as he did, for insnce, in deploying Wayne Rooney in what was effectively the space between central midfield duo Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry and hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe.
There were times when it did not go quite right for Rooney. And an international goal drought that now extends to 11 games celebrates its first anniversary on September 9.
But disappointments were compensated for by three genuine assists and a significant contribution to England's early opener.
One delicate chip that almost left Nikolay Mihaylov stranded was inspired. Overall, Capello was very satisfied with the effort.
"I am really happy with Wayne Rooney's performance," said Capello.
"I asked him to stay in that position and he did everything perfectly."
Capello has reason to be hugely relieved Defoe delayed groin surgery as his two striking alternatives, Carlton Cole, who did not make the bench last night, and Darren Bent, who did, do not share the same predatory instincts as the Tottenham man.
Encouragement can also be taken from an outstanding goalkeeping performance from Joe Hart, who was making the first of what is likely to become a large number of competitive appearances.
Phil Jagielka remained solid at the heart of England's defence, even if Capello will almost certainly be choosing between Gary Cahill, Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott as the Everton man's new partner given the seemingly nasty injury Michael Dawson suffered after half-time.
A scan on Saturday morning ruled him out of the Switzerland match and he was immediately cleared to return to his club by the FA, who have no plans to call up another defender in the absence of the 26-year-old.
The fact no-one came away from Wembley talking about the absences of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand tells its own story of the latest addition to a notable run of 11 straight home wins.
Now the bandwagon rolls on to Switzerland, who have not lost a competitive match on home soil since that embarrassing defeat to Luxembourg which amazingly did not prove terminal to their hopes of reaching the World Cup, but did lose friendlies against Norway, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
As Capello will be acutely aware, any side coached by the wily Ottmar Hitzfeld has to be respected.
But Switzerland are clearly beatable. And should England claim a win that would surely provide a platform for a third consecutive triumph against Montenegro at Wembley next month, Capello will have regained the moral high ground again.
Who knows, we might even get a goal celebration.
"I read about this (non celebration)," he shrugged.
"When I won the Champions League against Barcelona with Milan in 1994, look how many times I celebrated then? Never. It is my style."
Sportinglife.com
