PICK-ING HOLES
Former England boss Fabio Capello says ‘fear’ will end Euro 2024 dream as he identifies player as the weakest link
Capello has reflected on his time as England manager
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FABIO Capello claims “fear” could end England’s Euro 2024 dream - as he identified Jordan Pickford as the weakest link.
Former Three Lions chief Capello has not forgiven the FA for forcing him out over the John Terry racism row in 2012.
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And while the Italian believes Gareth Southgate has “the best midfielders and forwards” of any squad in Germany this summer, he expects England to “freeze” under pressure once again.
Capello, speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, said: “I like England. Their midfielders and forwards are the best - Bellingham, Kane, Saka.
“The problem is defending and the keeper.
“At centre-back they are weak, not at the same level as the rest of the team.
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“So I have my doubts about the central defenders and Pickford, the goalkeeper.
“Sometimes he can be good. But for a defence to be good it needs to have confidence in the keeper.
“I have watched him in games, like the Euro 2020 Final, and after 20 minutes he just kept on kicking it long.
“It was as if he didn’t want the ball to be near him and just wanted it as far away as possible.”
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Capello, a Laureus ambassador, added: “The problem for England is that when they arrive at the moment to win they play with fear.
“It’s the fear. It’s the fear.
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“When you get to the very important trophies you miss something. That is the fear that freezes the team and it happens very often with England.
“It is this history of not winning. It is a monkey on their backs.
“My team was really good in the qualifying campaign and won many games but when we arrived in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup they were another team.
“They were tired because it was the end of a long season and the players had had too many games.
“Every game in England you have to be strong and fight, it is so physical. The teams have to run and run so when they arrive at a tournament they are not the same players
“They are tired and then they play without confidence.”
