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Despite defeat Capello 'happy' with performance
Fabio Capello watched his England team slump to a dismal 1-0 defeat against France in the Stade de France and then announced he was 'happy' with the performance.
He also praised David Beckham, who won his 100th cap to join a club which also
comprises Billy Wright, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton.
Beckham played from the start and true to form in a career which has had its
fair share of highs and lows received a yellow card before being replaced just
after the hour mark by Blackburn's David Bentley.
Capello also saw goalkeeper David James bring down Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka to
allow Franck Ribery to score the game's only goal from the penalty spot.
Capello, however, insisted the performance was better than the 2-1 victory
against Switzerland at Wembley last month.
He said: 'I told the players I am happy we made progress compared to
Switzerland, even though we won that game.
'I'm happy I saw some very good things against a top-level team. That showed
me what our worth is.'
Capello made four substitutions at half-time, John Terry being replaced by
Joleon Lescott and Stewart Downing coming on for Joe Cole, Peter Crouch for
Gerrard and Michael Owen for Wayne Rooney.
It was Owen's first action under Capello but he had little opportunity to
demonstrate the goalscoring form he has shown recently for Newcastle.
Capello also switched formations, changing the lone striker role played by
Rooney and partnering Owen and Crouch.
He said: 'I made the team play two different ways so I could see many
players. My ideas are now a lot clearer.'
He also maintained that he substituted Beckham, who picked up his booking for
tugging the shirt of Ribery, only so that he could take a look at Bentley
against top-rated opposition.
Capello said: 'I'm very happy about David Beckham. He played like I know how
he can play. I only substituted him because I wanted to see other players and I
know Beckham as a player very well.'
The most pleasing aspect for Capello was the way the side refused to give in,
even though they were outplayed for long periods by a French side missing
several of their biggest stars, including Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Karim
Benzema and Louis Saha.
He said: 'I'm happy that the team showed they didn't want to lose the game.
They played right to the end. This was most positive thing considering the level
of the opponent.
'Anelka and Ribery showed pace for them but I think we had more pace in the
first half. We slowed down a bit though in the second half.'
Capello also revealed that his plans suffered a late hitch when Frank Lampard
fell ill at the team hotel.
Original story from ESPN_Soccernet.
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