Capello praise for Wayne
Fabio Capello was delighted with the manner in which Wayne Rooney dealt with the pressure of his off-field problems during England’s victory over Switzerland.
The striker has come under intense scrutiny following allegations about his private life in the weekend newspapers and it was speculated that he might not play in Basel.
England boss Capello is understood to have closely monitored Rooney’s psychological condition ahead of England’s second Euro 2012 qualifier before deciding to name the Manchester United star in his first XI.
The 24-year-old swept aside suggestions that he was not mentally fit to play by scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 victory in Switzerland to leave England, who brushed past Bulgaria last Friday, top of qualifying Group G.
Strong
And an upbeat Capello was suitably impressed, as he told Sky Sports 2: “I think he played well. He was always at the centre of the play, the centre of the movement.
“I think the pressure was really strong on him, but he played very well.”
Capello was under the spotlight himself, with the trip to Switzerland acknowledged as England’s toughest test in a relatively kind qualifying group that also contains Wales and Montenegro.
The outing was the Three Lions’ first real examination since the World Cup debacle this summer, when Germany administered a stark reality check in the last 16 in South Africa.
Capello went from hero to zero in Bloemfontein and has since been criticised for his limited grasp of the English language and a seemingly stubborn refusal to budge from a rigid 4-4-2 formation.
Fantastic
But the Italian’s side passed their Swiss test courtesy of further goals from substitutes Adam Johnson, and Darren Bent, while their hosts, who had Stephan Lichtsteiner sent off, had only mustered a hint of a comeback when Xherdan Shaqiri made it 2-1.
Capello said: “I think we played, in the first half, fantastic football.
“This game was very important to win, but we played really, really well. I was really happy after the first half.
“The second half we probably played too slow, and I think after the second goal and [the sending off] it was more easier.”
An injury to Theo Walcott was one of the only blemishes for England, with the Arsenal winger stretched off after twisting an ankle in the build-up to Rooney’s goal.
The 21-year-old was taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray, but Capello hinted that it is not a serious problem.
He said: “It’s a little problem or not so big problem.”
