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Montenegro v England: Fabio Capello says drinking is ok, as long as his players win
Fabio Capello will allow his England players to enjoy themselves off the field at Euro 2012, including indulging in the type of carousing that has brought opprobrium on their rugby counterparts, as long as they are performing on the pitch. You don’t sin when you’re winning is the gist of the manager’s controversial credo.
“Everything when you win is good, the perfect choice, the best choice if you drink or go with women,’’ said Capello. “When you lose, it’s a disaster. The results are the most important thing.’’
Football’s coming home — at 3am, slightly tipsy and with lipstick on its collar.
Hitherto noted as a disciplinarian, Capello’s comments are bound to stir considerable debate in a sport that has endured all manner of refuelling issues, although not so many recently. Capello’s current squad is one of the more abstemious in English history.
Leaving aside the possibility of more gargling in the Dentist’s Chair, there was also the charge that Capello was sending mixed moral messages having stripped John Terry of the captaincy after claims he had an affair with Wayne Bridge’s former paramour. Yet the decision was taken because of the potential impact on the dressing-room dynamic.
It is all about the result for Capello, not preserving the nation’s morals.
Andy Carroll could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow at Capello’s remarks, particularly after the coach had criticised the striker’s lifestyle. What seems strange is that the words could haunt Capello if his side qualifies for Poland and Ukraine. As he spoke, Capello was briefly interrupted by a concerned FA official.
Capello waved him away. “I know what I’ve said,’’ insisted the FA’s most high-profile employee. “Don’t worry. Everything is good when you win. The other things are wrong when you lose.’’
The FA has been seeking a more relaxed atmosphere at tournaments after the players went stir crazy in Rustenburg at the 2010 World Cup, although Capello’s concept might be a little too relaxed for traditionally conservative FA tastes.
Officials have already looked at city-centre bases for England in Warsaw and Krakow for next summer, believing that easily-bored players need to be kept busy.
Holland were hailed as the model of the modern mature team at the World Cup, staying in a Johannesburg hotel and regularly wandering around the local Sandton mall, enjoying late-night coffees.
“I know most of the Dutch team stayed together from 10 May for the World Cup,’’ said Capello. “They were together for two months, more or less and you saw what happened: it was fine because they finished second.’’
Briefly coach of AC Milan’s rugby team in the early Eighties, the Italian finds no problem with England’s antics at the Rugby World Cup as long as the team progress.
Asked whether “dwarf-throwing or bungee-jumping could affect results”, Capello replied: “If no one is injured during these things, it will be good. I know very well rugby players. I was involved for two years with rugby players. The third half! After the game, that’s really strange!’’
A celebratory drink could well be in order this evening. England need only a point to confirm qualification. Many observers believe that the sting has been taken out of this tie. Even with a defeat, England will expect to qualify as Montenegro face a tough trip to Switzerland on Tuesday (and are resting three regulars on Friday night).
Capello shook his head. “It will be a tough game,’’ he said. “I said to the players you need to play to win.
"Thinking about a draw would be the biggest mistake we could make. I know Dejan Savicevic as a president [of the Montenegrin FA] and as a player [from Milan]. They will be competitive.’’
Montenegro lack a creative talent of Savicevic’s poise but Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic and Juventus’s Mirko Vucinic need watching.
“They have good quality players, even if it is a small nation,’’ said Savo Milosevic, the former Aston Villa forward who is Montenegro’s assistant coach. “They have a winning mentality and are not afraid of anybody.
"If England went to the Faroe Islands we all know it would be two or 3-0. But here it is not for sure. If we beat England this country will be blocked. It will be something really special. It is a small stadium and the crowd are crazy.’’
Capello knows that in players such as Wayne Rooney, for all the forward’s distractions, Ashley Young, Terry, Scott Parker, Ashley Cole and Joe Hart that England have enough mettle to survive. Capello reiterated he would be manager at the Euros — “absolutely, I’ve got a contract” — but “would be leaving after Euro 2012, absolutely’’.
The future can wait. The right result on Friday night and his beloved Friuli will be flowing freely. “If England qualify,’’ concluded Capello, “I want to drink with my friends the players and all the people who work with me.’’