Fabio Capello has cast doubt on England's World Cup prospects, claiming the team habitually arrive at major tournaments fatigued and burdened by apprehension. Speaking to the BBC, the former Three Lions manager said: "Always the same, England arrive at the World Cup tired and they play with fear."
Capello, the first non-Englishman to lead the national side, oversaw a forgettable 2010 World Cup campaign in which England crashed out in the last 16. He resigned in 2012 after John Terry was stripped of the captaincy. The Italian has long highlighted structural issues in English football, including the absence of a winter break and the presence of two domestic cup competitions, which he believes leave players with heavier workloads than their European counterparts.
The 77-year-old specifically criticised England's approach in the Euro 2020 final, when Luke Shaw put the team ahead inside the opening minute. "I remember the game against Italy and then after 10, 15 minutes they stopped playing," Capello said. "Long balls and they played with fear. This is the problem for England - it's tiring and fear. The manager, he has to cancel it." He urged Thomas Tuchel to address the issue.
England remain without a major trophy since 1966, having lost the Euro 2024 final to become the first nation to suffer back-to-back final defeats at the European Championship. They qualified impressively for this summer's World Cup and have been drawn alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, with Harry Kane arriving in prolific form for Bayern Munich as they chase a treble.
