LONDON // As he prepares for tomorrow's game against the Czech Republic and the start of the World Cup qualifiers, Fabio Capello will know this is crunch time.
On paper, he should have a team to challenge the world's best, but it is high time they proved this on the pitch and he still has more questions than answers.
Judging by the opening games of the Premier League season, Capello must have quietly cringed as it was the foreign legion who once again stole the show. Deco, Johan Elmander, Jonas, Samir Nasri, and Fernando Torres were among the class acts.
Great for the neutrals, but not for Capello who would have been hoping some of his English contingent would have found form straight away. England need to get off to a winning start on the road to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup or the Italian will find out how unforgiving this job can be after just eight months in charge.
Gabriel Agbonlahor did give him hope, with a superb hat-trick for Aston Villa, and Dean Ashton also grabbed a double for West Ham, but neither of these two strikers will be on show at Wembley. Agbonlahor plays with the Under-21s, Ashton is again injured.
And Capello does not have much time for tinkering with the first qualifier against Andorra on Sep 6.
One issue the Italian will definitely sort out today is the captaincy, which has dragged on far too long and might have been more fun to have had X-Factor-type auditions and got the public to vote. Rio Ferdinand is expected to pip John Terry for the role, but, honestly, why? What has John Terry done wrong apart from confront referees in the past, which apparently upset Capello who wants role models. But how many players haven't done it when passions run high and decisions are contentious? Roy Keane was no angel, but inspirational and respected as a captain.
Terry's teammate Joe Cole thinks the players will get right behind whoever is chosen. He said: "There are five or six leaders in the team, players with experience; there are captains all over the pitch.
"We are all together, we are all in a good mood and positive about the qualifying campaign.
"We don't want to be living in the past. The last Euros has gone and we move on to the next challenge. I am convinced we are going in the right direction. We have the right man in charge. He has won things and he is going to be pushing us in the right direction.
"There are no guarantees in life in anything. All I can guarantee the England fans is they have got 23 players in the squad who will run through brick walls to get there [the World Cup] ."
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
SPECS
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ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 05 Arsenal 1-4 ipswich
March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Apr 02 Arsenal 3-0 Leicester
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Jawan
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Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
CREW
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
57%20Seconds
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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