Selection posers for Capello

Fabio Capello faces a series of immense selection posers involving three of his most experienced players ahead of Wednesday’s crucial European Championship qualifier with Croatia in Zagreb.

Capello has a reputation for achieving the big results when they matter throughout his distinguished club career.

But now he has plenty of thinking to do about whether to accommodate David Beckham and Joe Cole in his first 11 against Slaven Bilic’s side and about how to get the best out of Wayne Rooney.

Beckham featured in the four friendly internationals before Andorra but had to be content with a late appearance in Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium as Theo Walcott was given his first start for his country on the right flank.

Capello described his performance as “incredible” for the first 20 minutes as he showed the sort of pace that would have impressed Linford Christie, who won 100 metres Olympic gold in the same stadium in 1992,.

The Arsenal player faded but still was able to get to the by-line and whip in the occasional cross, something that a 33-year-old Beckham has been attempting from increasingly deeper positions in his twilight years.

But Capello knows that the experience and know-how of Beckham in the hostile and intimidating atmosphere of Zagreb could be crucial – although he ruled out using him in the holding midfield role in which he finished the game against the Andorrans.

While a case could be made for still leaving out Beckham after his recent performances, it would be a brave move by Capello if he continued to overlook the claims for a first start in five internationals from the bubbly Cole.

The Chelsea midfielder scored a last gasp equaliser as a substitute in last month’s friendly international with the Czech Republic and then came off the bench to net twice in six minutes against Andorra to spare Capello’s blushes.

There is no doubting Cole’s potency but maybe Capello’s second half outburst, in which he criticised the 26-year-old for not supporting Emile Heskey once England had gone 2-0 ahead, tells the story of why he is reluctant to pick him.

The Italian demands discipline from his players as they carry out his plans on the pitch and perhaps Cole is seen as a maverick by the one-time Real Madrid boss.

But that has to be weighed up against the problems Cole can cause opposition defenders and at the moment he has the scoring touch.

Skipper John Terry said: “Coley came on with a fresh pair of legs and showed great movement for his first goal and the second one. It was two great finishes. He was fantastic.

“I am delighted for Coley. He has been on fire at Chelsea and he has come on turned things. When he is not in the team, he is really frustrated because he wants to play. I am delighted for him.”

Of the players in the side, it is Rooney who is the topic of the most debate as once again the game passed him by for long periods save one first half chance and his setting up of Cole’s second goal with a superb reverse pass.

The Manchester United forward was not England’s worst performer and his commitment and willingness to chase back and tackle, albeit sometimes in a reckless manner, cannot be faulted.

But the player who burst on to the scene during Euro 2004 and terrorised proven international defenders seldom surfaces.

It could be that Capello may prefer Emile Heskey to Jermain Defoe in Zagreb in the hope of getting the best out of Rooney and he will be mindful of how the Wigan striker linked up so effectively with Michael Owen 12 months ago.

Capello knows it will be a completely different game on Wednesday. In contrast to the massed Andorran defence, England must cope with a skilful and slick-moving Croatian side.

But he has confidence in his players being able to pull off the positive result needed if England are not going to be playing catch-up in their bid to reach the 2010 World Cup finals.

He said: “Croatia will be strong and the level of the quality of the players will be better and more dangerous. Andorra played to try and not lose the game and not to score goals.

“I followed Croatia a lot in the European Championships. They are a good team and, when they play at home, the fans help the players a lot. The fans are very strong in terms of emotion and passion.

“Are England good enough to get a result? Yes, I think so. I am confident in my team. Against Andorra we played well for some periods and for other periods too slowly.”