Fabio Capello's smooth exterior finally cracked in Rustenburg this morning, revealing a teak-tough attitude Joe Cole is convinced can help steer England to World Cup glory.

Apparently already piqued by having a safari trek disturbed yesterday afternoon by the presence of a dozen photographers and camera crews, Capello flipped at England's Royal Bafokeng training base when he thought the interior of a medical room was being filmed.

"Why do you take photos of the rooms? No excuses," snapped Capello before glaring angrily at his prey, turning smartly and heading into the middle of England's training pitch.

It could be regarded as evidence of pressure after a fraught week that started with a tournament-ending knee injury to skipper Rio Ferdinand and delivered a wretched first-half display in Monday's practice match with the Platinum Stars, when Wayne Rooney's conduct was criticised by the local referee.

But that view would be at odds with the one Cole has witnessed behind closed doors.

The midfielder might have been injured for the vast majority of Capello's reign.

However, the experiences the 29-year-old has had confirms a belief that Capello is the equal of any manager Cole has worked with, a list that includes Jose Mourinho.

"Fabio is a great manager," he said.

"I have been lucky enough to work with some great managers and he is right up there with the best.

"He keeps us all on our toes."

The massive media corps who follow England to major tournaments will now tread as warily as the players as they scooted round the animals they were so keen to see yesterday.

In a way, it was a normal situation for Capello's 23-man squad.

For, as Cole reports, there is a vast difference between this World Cup campaign and his two previous ones.

The guessing game has already started about England's likely starting line-up to face the United States in Saturday's Group C opener in Rustenburg. But no-one really knows, not even the players.

"The great thing about the squad now, which is different to when I have been in England squads before, is that you don't know who the manager is going to pick in any position," said Cole.

"It keeps everyone on their toes.

"When players are not being picked on reputations and the manager is choosing his team solely on form, fitness and temperament, that is when you get the better team ethic and things gel together.

"There is a lot of competition in this squad. There aren't 10 lads thinking they are going to be sitting on the bench in this tournament.

"Everyone thinks they have got a chance at this World Cup and that has to help overall."

Cole's assessment means he is not too troubled by the fact England's goalkeeping position remains the subject of intense debate.

The Football Association insist David James is available for selection even though reports persist that the 39-year-old is troubled by a minor knee problem.

Capello is more likely to be swayed by that than reports some senior players want James to be chosen ahead of Joe Hart and current favourite Robert Green.

And Cole is happy to let the manager get on with it.

"The players will leave it to the manager," he said.

"We are very lucky. We have three great goalkeepers who are all working hard and training well."

Neither is Cole overly concerned by Rooney's temper tantrum on Monday, which it has been argued within the England camp actually provided the Three Lions with the lift they required.

"Wayne is an experienced player," said Cole.

"Teams have tried to wind him up in the past but he will be okay."

Rooney's state of mind is of huge importance given how pivotal he is to the entire England strategy for success.

Pre-tournament concerns had been expressed about how easy Rooney would find it to relax and curb a natural desire to be on the move every minute of the day.

Capello found a way yesterday with that safari, which might not have gone completely to plan but certainly reminded the England players just what a different place this World Cup has come to.

"The safari was fantastic," said Cole.

"We wanted to see the lions and the leopards have a bit of a tear-up or something. It wasn't to be but I still loved it.

"The world all looks the same these days. It is so corporate. You can always find a McDonald's or a Starbucks.

"But here is different to anything else.

"You go into the bush and see all those animals. I was talking to the guy who took us round and asked him what would happen if we got out and started walking. He said it was 50-50 whether we would make it.

"It is quite surreal really."