West Ham defender Matthew Upson is happy playing for Italian coaches Gianfranco Zola and Fabio Capello, the England manager.

"There are a lot of similarities in their character and they way they view football," Upson said. "They definitely have a real tactical knowledge.

"Italian football is more tactical than the hustle and bustle of English football. Both managers have brought tactical awareness to their teams and that will make us better structured teams.

"At the top level that is the only way you can play football. Zola was a flair player and loved passing and moving the ball. Playing with Fabio Capello it is the same thing. If we don't have the ball we have a good shape and are hard to break down."