Recently, renowned Italian coach Fabio Capello shared his insights on the English national team, explaining why the Three Lions have failed to win a major tournament since 1966.
During an appearance on UEFA’s “Legends’ Lounge” show, Capello, who led England to the 2010 World Cup, discussed his time coaching the team and his observations. He said, “Managing England was always a dream for me. I built a fantastic squad, but I always said that in September and March, England could compete with anyone. But come June, the team was exhausted. So, when it came to the World Cup or the Euros, they played without confidence, very timidly. Look at the last Euros final at Wembley – they went ahead early, but within 20 minutes, they started launching long balls from the goalkeeper.”
Capello attributes this fear to the extended period without a title victory. He commented, “Why are they afraid? Because they haven’t won a trophy for so long.” He also acknowledged that his coaching approach was different from what English players were accustomed to, leading to a disconnect.
“As a manager, I fought every day with 45 people. They were always watching me, asking, ‘What are you doing?’ Their fear was visible on their faces. I believe respect is crucial, something I learned from my old coaches as a player, who would often say, ‘Play like you train,’ but that wasn’t happening with England,” Capello explained.
Capello: England Players Become Timid Due to Long Title Drought, Fear Takes Over in Crucial Moments. Author:Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced:https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/capello-england-players-become-timid-due-to-long-title-drought-fear-takes-over-in-crucial-moments.html