England reap triple Capello payoff

By Mitch Phillips - Analysis

LONDON (Reuters) - A superb series of results, a massive lift in confidence and the development of fringe players into worthy front-line internationals is not a bad return for Fabio Capello's first year as England manager.

When the Italian was appointed last December England were in the doldrums.

Their failure to qualify for Euro 2008 led to the departure of Steve McClaren and the public were widely disenchanted at the attitude and performance of the supposed "world class" players who seemed to give their all only for their clubs.

Now, with Wednesday's 2-1 friendly victory in Germany capping a fizzing start to their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, it is all very different.

"When I started my job I said we have to recover our confidence," Capello said. "The players understand this and we saw it during the game and before that during training.

"The players know what I want from them during games and what they have to do."

It sounds a simple requirement but under McClaren's hapless reign it was seemingly a task too far for the millionaires of the Premier League.

McClaren, promoted to the top job after assisting Sven-Goran Eriksson, was never able to convince the players or public that he knew best but there is no doubt now about who is in charge.