Abject England's Wost Performance under Capello

England 1 France 2

In undoubtedly the most appalling display under the management of Fabio Capello, a blend of youth and experience in the England side fell way short of the mark, going down to 2-1 defeat to Les Bleus at Wembley. A first half goal fifteen minutes in from glorified Real Madrid substitute Karim Benzema and a Mathieu Valbuena strike after the break but before the hour sealed the win with a Peter Crouch consolation the home side scarcely deserved coming late on.

Where do you start with tonight’s friendly defeat to one of the nation’s bitter rivals? This game, more so than normal for a fan of the Three Lions, was difficult to watch full stop. England just weren’t in it for the first half. You genuinely wouldn’t have known that game was at Wembley if in the top corner of television screens it put their name first. Service into the in-form Andy Carroll was nonexistent and he endured a frustrating and torrid debut along with fellow international first-timer Jordan Henderson and Kieran Gibbs, making his first start. The home side just couldn’t get the ball off the visitors and Gareth Barry for me had another poor night in the holding role. If it’s your job to break up the play first and foremost then make sure you do it!

Tactically, playing Phil Jagielka at full back when he hasn’t played there for the best part of five years is frankly inept. The Everton defender has moved on from his days at Sheffield United being a jack of all trades, including emergency goalkeeper. On form he deserved head and shoulders above any other England player in the squad to start partnering Rio Ferdinand at centre half, instead it was Joleon Lescott, a bit part player in Manchester City’s season so far, that got the nod. It was the right side of the Lions defence however that was at fault for France’s opener. Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Benzema exchanged passes with a sluggish response from Jagielka and Ferdinand and before you knew it the latter had beaten Ben Foster at his near post.

France’s midfield seemed superior in every way and Capello did nothing to try and exploit the inexperience of the holding Yann M’Vila. Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Malouda really ran the show; they were so much more fluid than the static Lions midfield. The 4-2-3-1 formation now seems to have died a death. Theo Walcott had one incisive run later on in the first half, but in typical fashion for England tonight it didn’t amount to anything. Philippe Mexes, who has been outstanding for years at Roma and was frozen out under previous management, came across superbly from centre half to snuff out the danger. His return to the international fold is one of Laurent Blanc’s best weapons.

The 1998 World Cup winning defender has sent a bad message to his players for me though. Barcelona’s Eric Abidal had been suspended from international duty until this game for his part in the circus that was the French national team in South Africa and yet he was restored to a starting berth at full back on his return to the fold. With Pep Guardiola signing Adriano Correia in the summer his place in the Spanish giants’ side is not guaranteed and Gael Clichy has performed well in his absence, with Arsenal’s left lack probably feeling aggrieved at losing his place in the side. Abidal has been a good servant to France, but the bottom line is that he is not a long term option and as he gets older he will have to be considered as a centre half instead, much like most capped player Lilian Thuram was.

England weren’t really that much better in the second half. The one positive to take from this abject display is the continuing brilliant record of Peter Crouch. His hooked finished from fellow substitute Ashley Young’s corner with five minutes of the ninety remaining was well taken, even if it wasn’t deserved. The Lions did play better football after the break, but they never really forced Hugo Lloris in the visiting goal into making a save you wouldn’t expect any keeper to make. Tonight was an opportunity missed for a number of players to stake their claims. It didn’t work out for Henderson or substitute Jay Bothroyd and it is a certainty Gibbs will be dropped in favour of Ashley Cole unless injury prevents it. His lack of defending allowed Bacary Sagna down the right unopposed to set up Les Bleus second.

We can’t have seen the last of Andy Carroll in an England shirt though; if his good league form continues then Capello has no choice but to carry on selecting him. Many fans would have liked to see Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton included in the squad and on form he certainly deserved a place as much as any other midfielder. In conclusion all you can say is we all hope that the players are more up for the next competitive international than they were tonight!