Fabio Capello has thanked the input of club counterparts, Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Rafa Benitez at Liverpool for England's 4-0 win over Slovakia. United's Wayne Rooney and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard linked together seamlessly.

"I always said the important players, the big players, can play together," said Capello. "You just have to find their position on the pitch.

"It is not really down to me. I am manager of England but when I choose the players it is because they have done very well at their clubs.

"It is the managers of Manchester United and Liverpool who have been the most important."