INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY/England 1 Spain 0:FABIO CAPELLO was exhilarated supporter more than stern overlord when he thought about one of his debutants in the win against Spain. "Rodwell played with big confidence, without problems," he said of the Everton midfielder he used as a substitute.
“I knew him but I never thought a player so young, on his first exhibition, could be so ready, so good to play at this level.” At 20 years old Jack Rodwell was the embodiment of the aspiration that Capello holds as he enters the closing months of a contract that ends at Euro 2012.
He appears to be reinventing himself as a mixture of talent scout and guide to newcomers entering the top flight. It may be prudent for Capello to present himself as a nurturer of future stars. The bookies make England fourth favourites for the European Championship and nothing that occurred at Wembley will provoke a rethink.
The defeat of the world and European champions was still to be enjoyed on its own terms. Self-sacrificing qualities of diligence and discipline were at the heart of the victory. There was also a reason to wonder if there has ever been a truly great team that is so quirky in the way it expresses its superiority.
At the 2010 World Cup Spain won all their matches in the knockout stages, including the final, by a 1-0 margin. The technique in the passing generally leaves opponents demoralised and weary but the consequences can be surprising on occasions when their focus is less severe. Since the autumn of last year their record in friendlies has included defeats by Argentina and Portugal by 4-1 and 4-0 margins respectively. Though Spain were short of their peak on Saturday, the sloppiness was not so marked and the sense of occasion generated by the 87,189 crowd had its effect on both sides.
England were compelled to maintain concentration because Spain did react to falling behind, with David Villa hitting the side-netting and the substitute Cesc Fabregas shooting wide when he ought to have scored. Incidents of that type were always likely to be needed if the hosts were to make off with a win. So far as the rest of the action was concerned, Capello barely thought of anything other than halting the opposition.
Adopting an open style against Spain would have been delusional. Capello’s team at Wembley was barely equipped to attack at all and it made sense that the goal should come from a set piece. Darren Bent got free of Sergio Ramos to connect with a James Milner free-kick in the 49th minute and the header that came off the post was helped over the line by Frank Lampard.
Spain are in no need of compliments but it was still a tribute to them that England’s prolonged defending did not rankle with the fans. They had anticipated nothing else.
The manager lauded Scott Parker in his job as holding midfielder and there was composure in central defence. Capello tends to speak as if it were always on his agenda to take a closer look at, say, Phil Jagielka but the Everton player has at best been of secondary interest to the manager until now. It seems, too, that Joleon Lescott is getting better at a fairly late stage in his career.
In the England ranks there were some young men whose value is still being assessed. “It was an important night for England,” Capello said. “I remember, as a manager, there were a lot of times when I put young players, (Roma’s Daniele) De Rossi and others, into my team and you could see if a player has the confidence. That is what is so important.”
Capello applauded Phil Jones’s movement and tackling, even as he recognised the player had found the going hard. The manager appreciates, all the same, that taking on a superior side is simple in some psychological aspects since expectations are low for whoever clashes with Spain. England had been instructed to drop deep and defend in numbers because Capello knew that an attempt to press high up the pitch would not have stopped slick Spain from getting into the gaps left in front of the back four.
The approach and personnel will alter for tomorrow’s game against Sweden and the Wembley crowd will look for the type of entertainment that had been forbidden at the weekend, but this hard-earned victory was relished in its own fashion.
ENGLAND: Hart, Glen Johnson, Lescott, Jagielka, Cole, Walcott (Downing 46), Jones (Rodwell 56), Parker (Walker 85), Milner (Adam Johnson 76), Lampard (Barry 56), Bent (Welbeck 63). Subs not used: Carson, Baines, Cahill, Terry, Zamora, Sturridge, Stockdale. Booked: Milner.
SPAIN: Casillas (Reina 46), Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos (Puyol 74), Jordi Alba, Busquets (Torres 64), Alonso, Xavi (Fabregas 46), Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 74), Silva (Mata 46), Villa. Subs not used: Valdes, Albiol, Monreal, Llorente, Jesus Navas. Booked: Sergio Ramos,Fabregas.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
