Tough draw holds no fear for Capello
ENGLAND boss Fabio Capello insists he is not worried about being placed in a so-called group of death at today’s draw for the 2010 World Cup finals.
Their status as one of eight seeds means England will avoid tournament favourites Spain and Brazil at the first hurdle next summer in South Africa.
But they could be handed a tricky draw alongside big-hitters France or Portugal, as well as the much-fancied Ivory Coast and the improved USA.
Yet ahead of this evening’s ceremony, Capello said: “No I don’t worry about that. You have to play against all of the teams at some point, but of course if you play against the best teams it’s not so easy to pass the first round.
“If we want to win you have to play against all of the teams. It is not important which team we have to play in the group.”
Midfielder David Beckham, who is poised to become the first Englishman to play at four World Cups, echoed the manager’s views.
“It’s not about staying away from certain teams,” he said. “You are going to have to beat the best teams and the best players so it doesn’t really matter when you come up against them.”
Capello predicts that the first finals to be held in Africa will see a team from that continent reach the semi-finals.
“I think about the Africans and I believe this will be one of the most important World Cups for the African teams,” he added.
“I believe one of these countries will get to the last four. I saw the Ivory Coast play against Germany and they are a very strong team.”