They might be two of the national team’s best players but getting the best out of both of them at the same time proved beyond Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren.

It was only when Capello began to use Gerrard in a more attacking role wide on the left that a solution was finally found.

However, with Gareth Barry’s presence in South Africa dependent on recovery from an ankle injury he will have a scan on later today, Capello could not have failed to be impressed by the control Gerrard brought to a patchy England performance when he was switched back into the centre during half-time of a 3-1 win over Mexico.

“Gerrard can play in midfield with Frank Lampard but we have to wait and see which players will be fit,” said Capello.

“I changed it after half-time and put Steven in the middle, where he played very well.

“He is a really good player and can play in midfield, as a number 10, in lots of different positions.”

Peter Crouch scored his customary goal – his 21st, putting him joint 16th on the all-time England scoring list – and Glen Johnson found a brilliant effort to break his international drought.

However, it was returning central defender Ledley King who opened England’s account, nodding home Crouch’s lay-off from six yards.

“I am happy with him,” said Capello.

“I decided he had to play all the game today. It gave me an opportunity to see him.”

King is likely to be excused Sunday’s final friendly against Japan in Graz, although he has probably done enough to earn his spot in the 23-man squad Capello will unveil on June 1.

There is still time to make an impression – as Aaron Lennon and Adam Johnson did on their late introductions – although Capello insists no-one played themselves out of contention.

“I am not concerned by tonight,” he said.

“It was really important to know where we are now, physically and mentally after a long season.

“We have time to recover a lot of the spirit of the team and the qualities we have.

“When we play counter-attacking, we are really dangerous. But I don’t just want to play on the counter. I want more.”

What Capello doesn’t want is to get sidetracked by reports linking him with jobs elsewhere, this time Inter Milan, who are about to lose Champions League-winning coach Jose Mourinho.

“Juventus, Inter, Real Madrid, the other teams, AC Milan,” he smiled.

“It’s good for me but I am focused on the World Cup.”

Source + Pic: football365.com

The 29-year-old, stripped of the armband following allegations involving Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend that led to his former Chelsea team-mate turning his back on England, was subjected to jeers from a pocket of fans at Wembley when his name was read out before kick-off.

The boos from a minority of supporters continued in the first half but were forgotten by half-time, with England then coming back from a goal behind at the interval to record a victory in the friendly against Africa’s champions.

Terry is hoping a line is now drawn under the saga and Fabio Capello’s men can put the finishing touches to their preparations for the World Cup this summer with the backing of the fans.

“I showed my appreciation after the game. It means a lot the way they responded,” said the Chelsea centre-back. “As Wayne (Rooney) said in the week, it’s not about me, let’s forget about that now and concentrate on England in the World Cup.

“You could see against Egypt we have a really good chance if we keep playing like that and progressing. That is what we said 18 months ago, that we want to be in this position and keep improving and game after game we’ve seen that.”

Terry views the support from his team-mates as proof that the spirit in the England camp is still intact, with the performance against Egypt illustrating the point.

“Players have spoken publicly but privately I’ve had a lot of support from the lads as well which has been really nice,” Terry said. “The most important thing was the match and putting in the right performance.

“That fight and drive we have for each other will never go away. The spirit among the lads is fantastic and we showed that by coming from a goal behind against a really good side. We’re delighted with the result.”

He added: “We showed that (spirit) in Holland and other games as well. It’s really important, especially in front of our own crowd. We have two more games before the World Cup so it was important to come away from the Egypt game with a win and a good performance.”

Terry has also dismissed question marks over his personal form, after getting turned for Inter Milan’s opener in the Champions League clash at the San Siro, then being part of a defence that conceded four goals against Manchester City at the weekend.

“It’s a couple of bad results,” Terry added. “A couple of bad results sometimes means a bad performance from me surprisingly.

“I was pleased with my performance against Egypt. It was important to come out and play the way I did. The main thing was the team, collectively. Even when the players came on they made an impact and gave the manager food for thought.”

Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard insists Terry’s England performances will not be affected by losing the captaincy.

The midfielder said: “It’s an old cliche but every player should act as if they have the armband, certain players act like that more than others. John does that and will continue to do that regardless of the armband or not.

“He played very well. It was a difficult game too because they are very sharp up front with top-drawer strikers. He did very well, like he always does for England.”

Lampard explained that jeering, if only from a small number of fans, can be counter-productive.

“Most fans understand that booing, whether about on-the-field issues or off-the-field issues, doesn’t help,” he said. “There is a feeling now that we’re in the zone where we have to concentrate on getting out the negativity because that can affect people and no-one needs that.

“It’s only been two or three days together and people are concentrating on their football and their rest in between times. We’ve tried to block out any negative feeling.”

Source: teamtalk.com

Pic: connect.in.com

Beckham passed Bobby Moore’s previous record of 108 caps when he came on as a half-time substitute in Saturday’s 4-0 friendly win over Slovakia. On his 109th appearance in an England shirt, Beckham proved his continued worth to the side, setting up Wayne Rooney with a cross for England’s second goal.

Beckham’s impressive cameo will have given coach Fabio Capello food for thought as the Italian prepares to pick his team to face Ukraine in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier.

A win for England would cement their position on top of European qualifying group six and keep Capello’s team firmly on course to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

Capello started the Slovakia match with Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon on the right flank and his pace caused Slovakia problems at times. Beckham admits Lennon offers a different kind of threat and he is prepared to start on the bench if it helps England get a crucial victory.

“Aaron went past players like they weren’t there,” Beckham said. “With the pace he’s got, he’s in exceptional form for Tottenham, he deserved to start.

“Everyone wants to start for England, but at the end of the day, everyone also wants to play for England.

“Substitutes can be very important. We saw that at Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“Sometimes substitutes come on and can help secure a game, or change a game. I was happy with getting on and happy with the assist.

“It is what I have done for my whole career, and if I get a chance there are players like Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey or Peter Crouch to get on the end of it.

“If I start, then I start. If I don’t, then I am part of the team – a good team which is going forwards.”

Although Beckham is now behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton – who has 125 caps – in the all-time England appearance list, the former Manchester United star refuses to dwell on his own achievement because he is focused on Ukraine.

“I just got asked to do a picture with a shirt with 109 on the back but I did that for 100 and obviously it’s a big thing for me but I don’t think we should focus too much on that,” he said.

“But of course I just couldn’t wait to get on and couldn’t wait to get to that 109.

“I said during the week that when I equalled the record I got a note from Stephanie Moore (wife of the late Bobby Moore) saying ‘congratulations’ and Bobby would have been so proud.”

Shilton had complained that he is unhappy Beckham is racking up caps as a substitute, but the AC Milan player received great support from the Wembley crowd as he entered the pitch for the second half.

He insisted that there were no pre-match butterflies.

“I wasn’t nervous – if I’m still nervous playing football and playing at Wembley for England now it’s worrying,” he said.

Beckham reiterated that his time in Milan has played a big part in his continued renaissance in an England shirt.

“I knew and I’ve always known throughout my career that if I’m fit and in top shape then I can play to my best. Obviously Milan’s done that,” he said.

Source: soccernews.com