Capello stays in charge of England

Fabio Capello is to remain in his post as England manager despite the team's World Cup flop, the Football Association said yesterday.

Capello's position had been called into question after England were knocked out of the World Cup at the last 16 stage by arch-rivals Germany in an embarrassing 4-1 defeat.

But the FA, dismissing talk they might sack the 64-year-old Italian, said Capello would stay as national team manager and that he remains the best man for the job.

Immediately after England's World Cup exit, Capello said he'd been told by the FA they would need two weeks to decide if they wanted him to stay on.

Capello's contract runs until after the 2012 European Championships and sacking him would have cost the FA millions of pounds after they removed, shortly before the World Cup, a 'break' clause from the deal.

"I am more determined than ever to succeed with the England team," said Capello.

"I can assure the fans I am now fully focused on our European qualifying fixtures, starting with the friendly against Hungary in August."

The FA said in a statement that they were convinced Capello was the best man for the job.

"The FA confirmed today that Fabio Capello will continue as England team manager. This followed a meeting of the Club England Board and formal approval by the FA main Board," the FA said.

Other candidate

The appointment of Roy Hodgson as Liverpool manager on Thursday robbed the FA of a leading English candidate for the post coveted by, among others, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

Capello was appointed after the failure of England to qualify for the European Championships.

He was much praised for introducing a disciplined regime to a squad where 'player-power' was felt to have got out of control under previous boss Steve McClaren and England qualified convincingly for the finals in South Africa.

But they were held to draws by the United States and Algeria before scraping a 1-0 win over Slovenia.

Former captain John Terry launched a thinly-veiled and public attack on Capello's methods.

Capello was also accused of tactical inflexibility after rigidly adhering to a 4-4-2 formation and not playing the likes of striker Wayne Rooney and midfielder Steven Gerrard in their best positions.

England's Euro 2012 qualifying programme starts at home to Bulgaria on September 3.