INTERNATIONAL NEWS: FABIO CAPELLO is intent on extending David Beckham's international career beyond 100 caps but retains serious doubts as to what role Michael Owen will play under his regime.
The England head coach watched his side stutter to a 1-0 defeat in Paris on Wednesday, mustering a solitary shot on target, but departed convinced that Beckham will be key to bringing the best out of Wayne Rooney, whom he considers the most natural talent available to him. Capello likened Beckham's potential impact to that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United and remains intent on utilising a lone-striker system, which will inevitably impact on Owen.
The Newcastle United forward, an unused substitute in the Italian's first game in charge against Switzerland, was partnered by Peter Crouch in the second half against France in a 4-4-2 but struggled to make an impact from sporadic and inaccurate service. Capello has been disappointed at the lack of forwards who have the ability to sear beyond defences with pace - a quality Owen had before injuries took their toll - and the lack of options has prompted the head coach to persist with a lone forward in Rooney.
He has yet to be persuaded that Owen, who has scored 40 goals in 89 caps, can fit into that formation, effectively restricting the 28-year-old, a first-choice selection for successive England managers, to a bit-part role.
"Every player wants to play but, for now, I'm not," said the striker. "I hope the manager knows what I'm about. I am sure he has seen me play - he has watched videos. I missed a lot of qualifying for Euro 2008 through my cruciate knee ligament injury but when I came back I played quite well and scored a couple against Russia and one against Israel and Estonia. I'm sure he has seen me play before."
The future appears brighter for Beckham. He returned to the fold against the French, with Capello and his coaching staff hugely impressed by the midfielder's attitude and professionalism this week. Given the lack of pace available to him, with Aston Villa's Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor out of form and Theo Walcott underused at Arsenal, Capello recognises Beckham's delivery as a rare provider of penetration as the Italian attempts to redefine how the team will play under his stewardship.
Key to that will be how he can get the best from Rooney, playing a role in which the forward thrives at club level when backed up by Ronaldo. Asked whether Rooney could flourish as a lone striker without the dynamism of the Portuguese at his back, or whether Steven Gerrard could have a similar impact for England as he does in harness with Fernando Torres at Liverpool, Capello replied: "But I have David Beckham, and Rooney can be our Torres. They are both good players.
"Against France, Rooney was playing the way he is currently playing for Manchester United. I played him and Steven Gerrard the way they're being played at their own clubs. That's what I wanted to see."
Capello has been surprised by the negative reaction to Wednesday's defeat in Paris, recognising as he does the true quality and depth of the resources he has at his disposal and the lengthy process of readjustment that lies ahead before the World Cup qualification campaign begins in the autumn.
He conceded that there had been a lack of creativity against Les Bleus - "We didn't create enough chances from the wings" - but was encouraged by the cameo played by Stewart Downing and by the way the squad attempted to keep possession. "The positives were that I saw the players playing with higher confidence," he added. "I'm talking about progress compared to Switzerland.
"We were playing away from home against a top-level team and we were playing right to the end. And I know now what I can get out of the players. It is in this type of game that you see the actual worth and value of the team and of the players. My interest is in trying to get the team to be ready for the World Cup qualifying campaign."
- Guardian Service
