Fabio Capello feels England might have a better chance of winning the World Cup in Qatar as the 2022 edition of the Fifa tournament occurs at a more favourable period of the year.
Fabio Capello wants to ‘test my theory’ timing of Qatar World Cup helps England
Former England coach Fabio Capello has told Sky Sports that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be the time that the Three Lions finally win another major tournament. He is keen to see if playing the competition in the European winter period proves to be of much benefit.
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Capello managed England for five years between 2007 and 2012, taking in the 2010 World Cup. The Italian took a star-studded line-up to South Africa, but his team featuring Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole only made the last 16.
Part of the problem for the Three Lions at recent World Cups, for Capello, is that a summer tournament rolls around when players are feeling the effects of a full domestic campaign. He also often sensed his players could operate at a much higher level earlier in the season.
Now, with Fifa allowing Qatar not just the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East but also the first to occur in the European winter, Capello sees England having a better shot at going toe-to-toe with the best countries as that is when he felt his players were ready to.
“I’m really interested to see who comes out on top at the World Cup in Qatar,” Capello said. “As a former England coach, when I coached the team in September, October and November, we were ready to face the best sides in the world.
“In March and April, it was so-so because the physical level was dropping and we then found it very tough in June. I want to test my theory that England are a great side in this period of the year.
“So, besides having talented players and a top coach [in Gareth Southgate], can they really be competitive and win a major tournament such as the World Cup?”
Southgate’s England side is proving Capello’s concerns may not be the case now
While Capello’s England sides found it ‘very tough’ to compete in summer tournaments, it might not be as much of a problem for Southgate’s squads after reaching the semi-final of the 2018 Russia World Cup from June to July and the final of Euro 2020 from June to July.
The Three Lions also came within a penalty shoot-out of beating Italy to win Euro 2020, in what was their first major final since winning the 1966 World Cup on home soil. So, going one step further and winning a final come the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be the target.
Yet playing in the European winter period could still come to Southgate’s aid, as England will arrive in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup in better physical condition – as Capello notes. But the conditions the Three Lions will face in Qatar will be akin to a summer tournament.
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