ENGLAND coach Fabio Capello said he was not too concerned by the defensive errors that led to both Netherlands goals in the 2-2 draw in Amsterdam. Mistakes by Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry handed the Dutch a 2-0 advantage at the break, before Jermain Defoe’s double completed a fine fight back. “These were just two silly mistakes,” said Capello, who has a 100% record with England in competitive games. “I was not angry about them because I can accept they were freakish.” But Capello said he would not be so relaxed about the mistakes if they came as a result of players ignoring instructions. “I don’t accept mistakes where the position is wrong or if I try doing something in training and then, afterwards, I don’t see it being put into practice on the pitch.” The Italian said he avoided raising his voice at half-time following England’s tepid and mistake-ridden opening 45 minutes. “I was really calm at half-time, really calm,” he said. “You have to understand what you have to do. It is not always the same. “It is very important psychologically for the players to understand if the manager has confidence that they can recover the result.” It was Capello’s introduction of Defoe at half-time that served as a catalyst for a change in England’s fortunes, and the Italian praised the Tottenham striker’s contribution. Defoe, who came on for Emile Heskey at the break, scored four minutes into the second half before grabbing the equaliser 13 minutes from time. “He is one of the best English forwards,” said Capello. “He is very fast, he is always in front of the goal and technically he is very good”. —— BBC Sport.
