Abby Brammell

By Rob Draper

Easy does it: Fabio Capello shares a joke with Steven Gerrard during an England training session


Fabio Capello is convinced that England can win the World Cup for the first time since 1966 when they travel to South Africa next month.

Manager Capello, whose team take on Mexico at Wembley tomorrow night in their penultimate match before opening their World Cup campaign against the United States on June 12, insists that his minimum goal is to reach the tournament's final.

And the charismatic Italian says he is confident in his team's ability to win football's ultimate prize.

'We have to have the confidence to win the World Cup,' he said. 'We have played the most important countries that will be at the World Cup, with the exception of Argentina, and we have played very well.

'I know the value of these countries and I believe my England team can beat all of them. The players believe that, too. You need this confidence and I have big confidence in my team. My target is to play in the World Cup final and we have to work and create a group mentality and a winning mentality every day.'


Feeling good: Wayne Rooney, Aaron Lennon and Steven Gerrard look relaxed in training


Since he took over as England manager in 2008, Capello has watched his side lose to Spain, Brazil and France. But, despite that, the manager claims his team will have learned from those defeats and will be capable of upsetting the odds if they progress from the group stages.

He and his squad fly in from their altitude training base at Irdning in Austria today to face Mexico before jetting out to prepare for their final warm-up match against Japan in Graz next weekend.

Capello will give Joe Hart and Robert Green their chance to stake a claim as England's No 1 goalkeeper against Mexico, with the manager still undecided over who will be his first choice.


Listen here: Manager Fabio Capello talks to the players during training in Irdning, Austria


Although David James is likely to be Capello's favoured keeper once the tournament begins, the Portsmouth player will be rested on Monday, along with Chelsea's Ashley Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, who all played in last weekend's FA Cup final.

Hart, who won his solitary England cap two years ago, will play the second half against Mexico, with West Ham's Robert Green expected to start.

Centre-back Ledley King is also expected to start his first England game since June 2007.

Leighton Baines, James Milner and Michael Carrick are all likely to start, with Liverpool's Jamie Carragher in line to be given an opportunity at right-back, either from the start or as a substitute for Anfield team-mate Glen Johnson.

The current squad of 30 will be cut down to 23 by Capello in nine days' time.


source :dailymail