Capello: 'We can beat anyone'

Fabio Capello says he has the squad to win the World Cup and has assured England fans they will not suffer any more penalty shoot-out misery in South Africa.

With just 35 days to go until the start of the tournament, Capello said England will have one of the strongest squads in South Africa and claimed he has the players to go all the way and be crowned world champions.

Capello knows England's chances at major tournaments down the years have been thwarted by the pressure, hype and expectation surrounding the nation's players, but he was forthright in his belief that he can lead the nation to World Cup glory.

"Why not?" said Capello. "My target is to play the final, because I think our team is very good. Always we have to improve, but I think if all the players are fit for the World Cup, we can beat all the teams.

"I think you can find a lot of good players, fantastic players [in other squads], but I am really lucky with my players. I am really happy with the team and the players."

And after England's embarrassing defeats in penalty shoot-outs down the years, Capello promised he would do everything within his power to ensure his players were fully prepared for the pressure of spot-kicks in the knockout stage.

"We practise in training every time we are together, but it's easy to score then because the pressure is not the same as having to score to win a game," said Capello.

"I remember Roberto Baggio, who was the most important player in Italy, maybe the world, in 1994, but he missed the last penalty in the World Cup final against Brazil.

"He said he had never put a penalty over the bar, but he shot over because of the pressure. You can practise penalties but when you arrive in front of the keeper and you have to score the goal, the keeper looks so big - too big!"

While Capello believes England have the talent and mental resolve to cope with the demands of the month-long tournament and emerge victorious, he admitted the gruelling demands of the English season may ultimately scupper England's chances.

Ahead of the tournament, Capello has major injury concerns over Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole and Aaron Lennon, while the patchy form of ex-England skipper John Terry has come under huge scrutiny this season.

The absence of a winter break in the Premier League has been cited as a major reason why England have failed at major tournaments in the past, with the players having nothing left in the tank after such an exhausting season.

And Capello admitted England will arrive in South Africa ahead of their opening game on June 12 against the USA already at a disadvantage, because of the relentless nature of the domestic campaign.

"At the end of the season the players are not the same as they are at the start," said Capello.

"In the Champions League, German teams were not good at the beginning of the season but in the spring they really began to play, because during the winter the Bundesliga stopped for one month.

"The players recovered their focus and this is really good for them. The English players will arrive a bit tired but I think in one month, with the doctors and the training, we will be fit for the start of the World Cup."

Capello also insisted he would not gamble with the fitness of players such as Tottenham's Ledley King, but will consult his medical staff before making the final decision on who to take to South Africa.

"When I was a club manager I would speak with the doctor to see who would start and who would be on the bench or not fit," said Capello.

"Here it's the same. I speak with the players and also the medical staff to see who is fit.

"If they are not fit they will stay at home because I prefer a fit player to one who is not fit, unless it's a small injury.

"The doctor might say that in two or three days, this player can be fit. But if it's two weeks, then no. We will wait to choose the first list of 30 players and then the final 23 for the squad.

"I just hope the best players will be fit for the World Cup, because without good players it's impossible."

Capello also revealed a decision had yet to be made on whether David Beckham would join the squad in South Africa to help behind the scenes, following the Achilles injury that ruled him out of the tournament.

"We invited David to stay with us in Rustenburg, but he has to check with his doctors," said Capello.

"If he can stay with us we will be happy, because the players respect him, so it would be for the good of the dressing-room."

*Fabio Capello was speaking to customers and employees of Nationwide Building Society, and signed the Nationwide England shirt, the world’s biggest football shirt.