Capello eager to avoid circus

Posted Wednesday, February 24, 2010 by PA

Fabio Capello is confident his World Cup training camp at Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus will ensure no repeat of the circus that accompanied England in Baden-Baden four years ago.

The England manager visited the complex near Rustenburg on his way to the pre-World Cup meeting with 18 other national coaches at Sun City - and the site's isolated location means WAGs and members of players' entourages will be at a distance.

That was not the case when England played in Germany during their last major tournament, but Capello said: "When I started this period I hoped it would not be the same."

The 2006 summer was the height of the England team being engulfed by the culture of celebrity, with Rio Ferdinand since branding the era as a "circus" where players were more interested in WAGs than winning.

Capello has seen recently how his players' private lives are now under intense scrutiny, with John Terry losing the captaincy following allegations regarding Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend.

Both are expected to be selected by Capello for the friendly against Egypt next week at Wembley - and Stuart Pearce, who is in Capello's backroom staff, does not anticipate problems.

"I don't see it being an issue," said Pearce, the current under-21 coach, who was speaking at the launch of the Nationwide Right Hand Fan competition, on behalf of England team sponsors Nationwide.

"We had a situation that I didn't feel warranted a week's worth of front-page news.

"Most people have backed the way that Fabio has handled it and now I don't think there will be a problem at all.

"When you turn up to represent England, the only thing that is important is England winning."