Venables: Capello facing massive test in England career

Former England and Tottenham boss Terry Venables says Fabio Capello is facing a massive couple of weeks in his Three Lions career.

In his column for The Sun, El Tel wrote: "In the background, there are suspicions that threaten to undermine everything the England manager does.

"Suspicions he doesn't want the job any more, suspicions he won't resign because he doesn't want to kiss goodbye to a £12million pay-off and suspicions the FA want him to go but cannot afford the compensation.

"But that is all they are, suspicions. And, for as long as they stay like that, there is a job to be done.

"When England face Bulgaria on Friday for the first of our European Championship qualifiers it is critical Capello, all of us, are looking forward to a new dawn - and not harking back to a dismal summer.

"I don't really know where England are at the moment. What's our way of playing? Who are our main players? What do we stand for? Like France and Italy, we are lost and quickly need to get back to basics to work this all out.

"That means studying the minute details of our game and getting personal with players - to understand their opinions and what they think their strengths and weaknesses are.

"And Capello needs to ensure they know exactly what is required of them when they pull on the shirt. I did this in the run-up to Euro '96 and it's one of the big differences between being a club manager and a national boss.

"The detail, the planning - here's where England will rediscover what they're all about.

"Capello has to be extremely positive right now and, above all else, believe in himself. He needs to take a long look in the mirror - sometimes it's easier to find the answers for everyone else's problems and far harder to work out your own.

"It can't have been easy for him to apologise to the nation for the World Cup heartbreak. Now he's over that hurdle, he needs to feel re-energised and confident about his own abilities and visions."