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| Fabio Capello’s chastening England experience finds echo with Russia | Fabio Capello’s chastening England experience finds echo with Russia |
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| Who was named BBC Sports Personality’s coach of the year in 2009? Fabio Capello, of course. Yes, it was another of those decisions where personality doesn’t come into play but the award signified England’s gratitude at reaching the 2010 World Cup following the sudden realisation under Steve McClaren that qualification was not guaranteed. Five years on, Capello finds himself on a similar pedestal in Russia. He can ill afford the World Cup to signal another demoralising turning point. | Who was named BBC Sports Personality’s coach of the year in 2009? Fabio Capello, of course. Yes, it was another of those decisions where personality doesn’t come into play but the award signified England’s gratitude at reaching the 2010 World Cup following the sudden realisation under Steve McClaren that qualification was not guaranteed. Five years on, Capello finds himself on a similar pedestal in Russia. He can ill afford the World Cup to signal another demoralising turning point. |
| “We have things to prove in this World Cup,” said the defender Vasili Berezutski on the eve of Russia’s opening game in Group H against South Korea. It is harsh to say the same applies to a man who has won five Serie A titles, two La Liga crowns and the Champions League, but their Italian coach does too, at least on a World Cup stage following his experience in South Africa when archaic tactics and conservative team selections drained the life out of England’s tournament as much as the results. His players felt inhibited too. As Steven Gerrard said recently: “It is actually the second World Cup I’ve been captain but maybe this time it is for real. Capello didn’t believe in me as his No1 captain.” | “We have things to prove in this World Cup,” said the defender Vasili Berezutski on the eve of Russia’s opening game in Group H against South Korea. It is harsh to say the same applies to a man who has won five Serie A titles, two La Liga crowns and the Champions League, but their Italian coach does too, at least on a World Cup stage following his experience in South Africa when archaic tactics and conservative team selections drained the life out of England’s tournament as much as the results. His players felt inhibited too. As Steven Gerrard said recently: “It is actually the second World Cup I’ve been captain but maybe this time it is for real. Capello didn’t believe in me as his No1 captain.” |
| The similarities between Capello’s standing as England manager before South Africa, and with Russia in Brazil are uncanny, even down to a lack of conviction in a captain following the loss of Roman Shirokov to a knee injury. Berezutski or Igor Denisov were the alternatives and the manager confirmed the former’s appointment only 24 hours before their curtain-raiser. “Igor is a leader on the pitch and Vasili speaks English and communication with the referee is very important,” explained Capello. Hardly a glowing recommendation. | The similarities between Capello’s standing as England manager before South Africa, and with Russia in Brazil are uncanny, even down to a lack of conviction in a captain following the loss of Roman Shirokov to a knee injury. Berezutski or Igor Denisov were the alternatives and the manager confirmed the former’s appointment only 24 hours before their curtain-raiser. “Igor is a leader on the pitch and Vasili speaks English and communication with the referee is very important,” explained Capello. Hardly a glowing recommendation. |
| The 67-year-old took over a national team of high expectation and low achievement when it was desperately in need of a fillip. Russia had exited Euro 2012 at the group stage, failed to qualify for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and would have hosted the event in 2018 without experience at that level for 16 years had they not made it to Brazil. | |
| As with England after the misery of Euro 2008, Capello restored order and confidence. Russia topped a qualifying group that included Portugal with seven wins from 10 matches, scoring 20 and conceding only five, keeping five clean sheets in the process. It will not come as a surprise to hear defence is Russia’s strong point. | As with England after the misery of Euro 2008, Capello restored order and confidence. Russia topped a qualifying group that included Portugal with seven wins from 10 matches, scoring 20 and conceding only five, keeping five clean sheets in the process. It will not come as a surprise to hear defence is Russia’s strong point. |
| Capello has also prospered at a financial level from a nation in need of rescue. He earned a total of £24m from his four years in charge of England, more had he not quit in February 2012 over the Football Association’s decision to relieve John Terry of the captaincy, and is the highest-paid coach at this World Cup on an annual salary of £6.7m. There has been no great controversy over Capello’s earnings in Russia, however, with the country accustomed to paying international managers such as Dick Advocaat and Guus Hiddink exorbitant salaries. Unlike his Dutch predecessors, Capello lives in Russia, indeed he is a regular at the Bolshoi, and is respected for travelling to games throughout the country on a weekly basis. | Capello has also prospered at a financial level from a nation in need of rescue. He earned a total of £24m from his four years in charge of England, more had he not quit in February 2012 over the Football Association’s decision to relieve John Terry of the captaincy, and is the highest-paid coach at this World Cup on an annual salary of £6.7m. There has been no great controversy over Capello’s earnings in Russia, however, with the country accustomed to paying international managers such as Dick Advocaat and Guus Hiddink exorbitant salaries. Unlike his Dutch predecessors, Capello lives in Russia, indeed he is a regular at the Bolshoi, and is respected for travelling to games throughout the country on a weekly basis. |
| The Russian Football Federation clearly believes it is getting value for money from the former Milan, Roma and Real Madrid title-winner because it has extended his contract up to and including the 2018 World Cup on home soil. That will be Capello’s swansong as a manager, he will be 71 by then, but a repeat of his last World Cup performance in Brazil would create doubt at the worst possible moment for Russia. | The Russian Football Federation clearly believes it is getting value for money from the former Milan, Roma and Real Madrid title-winner because it has extended his contract up to and including the 2018 World Cup on home soil. That will be Capello’s swansong as a manager, he will be 71 by then, but a repeat of his last World Cup performance in Brazil would create doubt at the worst possible moment for Russia. |
| Other parallels with his England tenure raise that possibility. Despite being lavishly rewarded for living in a nation’s capital city, Capello again appears under no compunction to oversee the development of young talent and co-ordinate a long-term strategy for Russia’s football development. He has selected an entirely domestic-based squad for this tournament while airing the occasional complaint about the talent pool available. His squad is filled with older players, few of whom are expected to feature in 2018, and of the younger members for whom Brazil is a learning curve for the main event in four years’ time, only striker Aleksandr Kokorin is a regular first-choice. | Other parallels with his England tenure raise that possibility. Despite being lavishly rewarded for living in a nation’s capital city, Capello again appears under no compunction to oversee the development of young talent and co-ordinate a long-term strategy for Russia’s football development. He has selected an entirely domestic-based squad for this tournament while airing the occasional complaint about the talent pool available. His squad is filled with older players, few of whom are expected to feature in 2018, and of the younger members for whom Brazil is a learning curve for the main event in four years’ time, only striker Aleksandr Kokorin is a regular first-choice. |
| “The important thing about this tournament is that Russia is in a World Cup after 12 years,” Capello countered. “That was an important step. We need this experience to understand the world level of football. This will give us great experience for 2018 but will also prepare us for the next European Championships, not just the World Cup at home.” | “The important thing about this tournament is that Russia is in a World Cup after 12 years,” Capello countered. “That was an important step. We need this experience to understand the world level of football. This will give us great experience for 2018 but will also prepare us for the next European Championships, not just the World Cup at home.” |
| Capello’s famed disciplinarian streak has again materialised at this World Cup with his players banned from using Twitter. “Tweets can be a nuisance if they are not written in an intelligent fashion,” he explained in Cuiabá. Overall, however, his strict approach has been welcomed by a squad that has lost focus in past tournaments. “Capello demands discipline and it’s a good thing because everyone is working hard, giving 100% in every session,” said Berezutski. | Capello’s famed disciplinarian streak has again materialised at this World Cup with his players banned from using Twitter. “Tweets can be a nuisance if they are not written in an intelligent fashion,” he explained in Cuiabá. Overall, however, his strict approach has been welcomed by a squad that has lost focus in past tournaments. “Capello demands discipline and it’s a good thing because everyone is working hard, giving 100% in every session,” said Berezutski. |
| That was reflected in Russia’s mature defensive performances in qualifying, another reason why supporters believe Capello has added something different and overdue to the national team. | That was reflected in Russia’s mature defensive performances in qualifying, another reason why supporters believe Capello has added something different and overdue to the national team. |
| The veteran central defenders Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich have been a reliable foundation for Capello in front of the trusted goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and the Italian has introduced a high-tempo pressing game to the midfield. How that will function in the heat and humidity of Cuiaba is an issue that appears not to worry the manager. “It was 32 degrees when we trained in Moscow, hotter than anywhere else,” he said. “Besides, it doesn’t feel that hot to me here.” | The veteran central defenders Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich have been a reliable foundation for Capello in front of the trusted goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and the Italian has introduced a high-tempo pressing game to the midfield. How that will function in the heat and humidity of Cuiaba is an issue that appears not to worry the manager. “It was 32 degrees when we trained in Moscow, hotter than anywhere else,” he said. “Besides, it doesn’t feel that hot to me here.” |
| How that will function in the heat and humidity of Cuiabá, however, is of concern to the Russians. | How that will function in the heat and humidity of Cuiabá, however, is of concern to the Russians. |
| Capello’s attacking options are limited, with only Aleksandr Kokorin of Dynamo Moscow proven at international level, but there has been a hint from the manager that he has learned from the harsh lessons of South Africa. | Capello’s attacking options are limited, with only Aleksandr Kokorin of Dynamo Moscow proven at international level, but there has been a hint from the manager that he has learned from the harsh lessons of South Africa. |
| “The experience of games at the World Cup helps,” said Capello. “Four years ago, I was at the tournament with the England team, but it is important to remember which players you are coaching and what their mentality is. Experience helps you to fix mistakes you made in the past.” | “The experience of games at the World Cup helps,” said Capello. “Four years ago, I was at the tournament with the England team, but it is important to remember which players you are coaching and what their mentality is. Experience helps you to fix mistakes you made in the past.” |
| Three young Russian talents to look out for | Three young Russian talents to look out for |
| Aleksandr Kokorin | Aleksandr Kokorin |
| Only 23 and a relative newcomer to the international stage, the Dynamo Moscow player has emerged as first-choice striker under Fabio Capello and is expected to retain that position in Brazil at the expense of the experienced Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Kokorin scored four goals in the qualifying campaign as Russia topped their group ahead of Portugal but, in the buildup to the opener against South Korea, he has admitted to feeling the weight of his country’s expectation. “I really feel a big responsibility because everybody is talking about me as possibly one of the surprises of this World Cup,” he said. | Only 23 and a relative newcomer to the international stage, the Dynamo Moscow player has emerged as first-choice striker under Fabio Capello and is expected to retain that position in Brazil at the expense of the experienced Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Kokorin scored four goals in the qualifying campaign as Russia topped their group ahead of Portugal but, in the buildup to the opener against South Korea, he has admitted to feeling the weight of his country’s expectation. “I really feel a big responsibility because everybody is talking about me as possibly one of the surprises of this World Cup,” he said. |
| Alan Dzagoev | Alan Dzagoev |
| The gifted midfielder was the one stand-out success for Russia at Euro 2012, when he demonstrated the potential that made him the youngest outfield player to appear for his country under Guus Hiddink four years earlier. His three goals were not enough to carry Russia out of the group phase but a big career and a big move seemed inevitable. Then the momentum slowed. Disciplinary lapses cost Dzagoev a regular place under Capello but an influential role in CSKA Moscow’s championship success last season, plus the injury that ruled out the captain, Roman Shirokov, offered a reprieve. Turns 24 today. | The gifted midfielder was the one stand-out success for Russia at Euro 2012, when he demonstrated the potential that made him the youngest outfield player to appear for his country under Guus Hiddink four years earlier. His three goals were not enough to carry Russia out of the group phase but a big career and a big move seemed inevitable. Then the momentum slowed. Disciplinary lapses cost Dzagoev a regular place under Capello but an influential role in CSKA Moscow’s championship success last season, plus the injury that ruled out the captain, Roman Shirokov, offered a reprieve. Turns 24 today. |
| Oleg Shatov | Oleg Shatov |
| The 23-year-old may not start against South Korea but is one of the few young talents to emerge on the international stage under Capello. Has made seven appearances for Russia since his debut last year, scoring twice in the process, including on his first outing, against Iceland. His range of attributes – technical ability, finishing and relentless pressing – are well‑suited to the manager’s designs for the team. Joined Zenit St Petersburg from Anzhi Makhachkala last year and has started to show signs that he could be Andrei Arshavin’s long-term replacement for both club and country. | The 23-year-old may not start against South Korea but is one of the few young talents to emerge on the international stage under Capello. Has made seven appearances for Russia since his debut last year, scoring twice in the process, including on his first outing, against Iceland. His range of attributes – technical ability, finishing and relentless pressing – are well‑suited to the manager’s designs for the team. Joined Zenit St Petersburg from Anzhi Makhachkala last year and has started to show signs that he could be Andrei Arshavin’s long-term replacement for both club and country. |