Abby Brammell

By Matt Barlow

Nice one, pal: Wayne Rooney celebrates with scorer Glen Johnson


England won their final game on home soil before the World Cup but the players left Wembley on Monday night with another blast from Fabio Capello ringing in their ears.

Ledley King, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson - with a brilliant 20-yard effort - were all on target as England beat Mexico 3-1 but the manager was far from satisfied with the display.

There was also another scare for Wayne Rooney, who completed 90 minutes after ankle and groin injuries but ended the game with a pain in his neck which Capello dismissed as 'no problem'.

Steven Gerrard needed four stitches in a cut on his head but the Italian boss was more worried about the lack of intensity and pressure from his team before the break.

'The manager wanted more aggression from the whole team,' said Gerrard. 'They had too much possession in the first half, we stood off them and let them play. We got in their faces in the second half and stopped them playing.


Anger management: Fabio Capello displays his fury during an unconvincing performance from England


'We can play better than that. There's still time to sharpen up.'

King, who scored England's first, added: 'The manager made his feelings known at half-time that we weren't getting tight enough.'

Capello insisted there was no cause for alarm. 'I'm not concerned,' he said. 'We have time to recover a lot of the spirit of the team, of the group, and those 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.

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

'I learned a lot about this game with the situation on the pitch because I spoke to the players at half-time and said we have to press more. It's very important to press and win it back quickly.

'It was not an easy game. Mexico had a lot of touches, a lot of movement with the ball, really good, and normally our players are really good in midfield.'

As for Rooney's fitness scare, Capello said: 'He said he had a small problem in his neck, but no problem. He wanted to come off for the last two minutes but I'd made all the substitutions so it was impossible to change. He needs to play and find his form.


source: dailymail