England FA sets semi-final target for Capello - 2010 World Cup

14.05.2008

THE Football Association has given England coach Fabio Capello the target of reaching at least the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup or Euro 2012.

It is one of a series of ambitious aims set out by the FA in an extensive review published on Tuesday.

The governing body also plans to appoint an international performance director and has given the go-ahead to the National Football Centre.

The project at Burton will be up and running by 2010. The review - which is believed to be the most extensive ever carried out by the FA - was ordered following England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Capello was appointed in the wake of that, and has only been at the helm for two matches, but the FA’s “Major Milestones” report makes it clear what is now expected of him.

The same has been laid out for England’s women’s team, managed by Hope Powell. England’s men last reached semi-final at Euro’96 when Terry Venables’ side lost to Germany on penalties.

Capello must now at least match that achievement either in South Africa in 2010 or at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

FA chief executive, Brian Barwick said: “There are some significant challenges but we are confident of tackling them.

“English football is looking to the FA to do what is right for the whole of the game; to nurture and protect its future.”

The new performance director will oversee all the national teams below the senior men’s side. It is a target which BBC Radio 5 Live correspondent Jonathan Legard believes “turns the screw” on the Italian boss, but one which Capello is apparently in favour of.

However, the FA’s consultation notes that Capello’s task is not helped by England producing “insufficient high-quality players to represent the England national teams and insufficient quality coaches”.

To this end - and after years of delay - the National Football Centre at Burton has finally been approved and will be up and running by 2010.

According to the report, the centre will act as a “preparation base for all the international representative teams and a hub from where best practice can be shared”.