By Chris Wright

Fabio Capello’s four-year England tenure over the course of 20 (you must promise here and now not to count them!) fabulous photos…

So long Fabio, and thanks for all the fish. Farewell and good luck.

[Photos: PA]

                          

We’ll have some proper reaction up once we’ve cobbled it together later this morning but, rather than the obligatory draw, a largely second-string England actually beat Sweden for the first time since the year of our Lord 1968 (13 games if you’re counting) at Wembley last night – a 22nd-minute own-goal from centre-half Daniel Majstorovic (with a cunning assist from Gareth Barry) eventually proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Rightly hailed by Capello after the game, there were several promising performances from players in and around England’s fringes and, as an aside, wasn’t it nice to see some creation from open play for a change?

Any road up, as I say, we’ll have more later.

Photos (click for larger images)…

Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

It’s a quandary that has been playing on the minds of many-an English football for the last few days: Why won’t big bad, Nazi-sympathising, Holocaust-denying FIFA allow brave England to play with Poppies embroidered on their shirts against Spain at Wembley on Saturday? At least, that’s how the Daily Mail would have it.

Sepp Blatter and co. have stood firm despite having their decision to refuse any such emblem being added to England’s shirts with an adult-size serving of righteous indignation from the press circles, citing FIFA’s sartorial ruling that a international side’s kit cannot be modified in any way after the initial design has been okayed by football’s governing body.

Of course, to those incensed this looks like a textbook example of bureaucratic dilly-dallying on FIFA’s part – hiding behind ridiculous, self-interested, tailor-made bylaws to prevent England observing a national tradition and honouring the men that fell in the Great War.

To the vast majority of Europe, the Poppy stands as a simple symbol of commemoration and appreciation for the men that spilt their blood in the fields of Flanders in WW1. Ask the Catholic/Nationalist population of Northern Ireland what the Poppy symbolises to them, and you’ll probably find you get a rather different answer. Therein lies the problem.

The wider picture is that, by allowing England to wear the Poppy, FIFA would be opening a veritable Pandora’s Box of political issues that would be much better off staying closed and sealed tightly – there’s no need for football, a game that we’ve seen humbly transcend even the most gruesome of socio-political issues, to go wading in and allowing certain countries to observe certain memorials with overt symbols of their allegiances and block others on entirely subjective grounds.

Indeed, who are FIFA (as I say, the governing body of football - nothing more, nothing less) to go championing or denigrating specific causes, charities and tributes?

It’s not often you find yourself siding with them, but FIFA ha’ve made a perfectly rational decision in barring the Poppy, regardless of how irrational it may seem on the surface.

                          

Nothing more, nothing less; just a few photos of the England squad training in the picturesque surrounds of the Podgorica City Stadium (which I honestly thought was tiled like a swimming pool on first view) ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro tonight…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

As always, I’ve no idea how long this will last so get your fill while the going’s good peeps…

Courtesy of FATV

                          

England did a football match against Wales last night. It wasn’t particularly good, but they won 1-0 anyway – chiefly because Ashley Young scored a goal and Robert Earnshaw, thankfully, spent the last few years under the tutelage of the Forest striker’s coaches.

Photos (click thumbs for larger images)…

Highlights (4:19 for Earnie’s horror miss)…

Photos: PA/Video: FATV

                          

By Chris Wright

A few snaperoos of both England and Wales limbering up at Wembley yesterday  – though not simultaneously I might add. I mean, could you just imagine?!?! Lol – ahead of tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifier between the two nations.

Photos (click thumbs for larger images)…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

No idea how long this is going to last (the session started at 10am), so get your fill while it’s hot…

Stream courtesy of FATV

                          

By Chris Wright

What do we have here? Why, it’s a gaggle of photos of the England chaps training at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria tonight…

Close eyes > hope for the best

Who knew the Suga Puffs Honey Monster was Bulgaria’s national emblem?

The Vasil Levski in all it’s glory

“Hey, you were ‘little spoon’ last time!”

“I told you John, you should’ve gone when you had the chance. You’ll just have to hold it.”

“After three, 3..2…1…and LUNGE!”

John Terry prances like a champ, and Leighton Baines knows it

No caption needed

“Hey Ash, feel that? The Terry love tap? You’re pregnant now”

When a Klingon collides with boiled ham – an artist’s representation

“Listen up boys, the starting XI tonight will be: in goal, David Stockd…ha ha ha, JOKING I AM!”

Photos: PA

                          

By Gareth McKnight

England continue their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign this week with fixtures against Bulgaria and Wales promising to give the fans a better idea of the nation’s chances of competing in Poland and Ukraine next year. With Fabio Capello’s men locked at the top of Group G on 11 points with Montenegro and an away day in Podgorica still to come, the Three Lions can ill-afford many more slip-ups.

The Italian coach has selected a number of promising youngsters in his squad for the match in Sofia, and it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Manchester United pairing Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley are trusted to start the match. Chris Smalling has impressed the former Real Madrid coach thus far this term, and should also pick up his international debut at right back. With no Rio Ferdinand to call upon, it will be a toss up between Jones, Lescott and Cahill to who partners skipper John Terry in the heart of the English rearguard.

“Wayne, your thoughts on England’s new-look hairli…err…front line?”

In attack Wayne Rooney will harbour the responsibility of getting the goals to win the match, and the United striker has started the season in blistering form, with a hat-trick against Arsenal last Sunday ensuring the 25-year-old goes into the game full of confidence. Darren Bent is an injury concern so Andy Carroll may accompany the former Everton man up front.

Bulgaria were put to the sword at Wembley in the return fixture back in September 2010, with Jermain Defoe scoring three in a comfortable 4-0 win. The away match will be no walk in the park however, as the luxury and familiarity of Wembley will be traded in for the hostility of the Stadion Vasil Levski. England fans would be advised to use public transport when making the trip abroad for the away leg as the conditions are not the best and the stadium is due to be renovated in the near future.

Football. You’re doing it wrong

The home side no longer have all-time top goalscorer Dimitar Berbatov to call upon, who quit the international set-up back in May 2010, but despite this Bulgaria will have some strong players on show come Friday. Stiliyan Petrov will be a familiar face for the away midfield, and the likes of Scott Parker or Gareth Barry will need to get close to the Aston Villa midfielder, who has the ability to shoot from distance or create chances for others. Former Manchester City forward Valeri Bojinov has not been selected in the squad, but Bolton’s Martin Petrov may feature.

The match will be given an extra bite by the fact that the home coach Lothar Matthaus has been vocal in the media this week and will motivate his players to get three points on Friday. The former Germany international got the better of England in his playing days, and will look to replicate this in his managerial tenure, despite the fact that Bulgaria are almost assured of missing out on Euro 2012.

A win would go far to alleviating fears of a do or die game in Montenegro next month, a draw is not ideal but would be acceptable and a loss would put the nation’s chances of competing in the European Championships in jeopardy. Expect a hostile reception from a passionate home faithful, and Bulgaria to come out of the blocks quickly, but if England can weather an early storm they should have the players and the experience to see them home.

Gareth McKnight writes for Soccerlens