Capello faces up to hard road ahead

But his hard-line reputation as a hugely successful club manager suggests this is not the case so, for the moment, it must suit his purposes to pretend that this England team are now rising from the ashes of their Euro 2008 failure.

If this is the case, there was little evidence of it as England succumbed to France, losing 1-0 last night in a pedestrian match that did little to stir the blood or hint at any kind of real improvement on the two years of disappointment under Steve McClaren.

It's hard to remember when England last produced a convincing performance against a team of any quality and last night's defeat simply confirms what most people knew already and what Capello is now discovering for himself.

With just three more friendly matches - the USA are next at Wembley in April - before World Cup qualification starts next season, Capello knows there is much for him to get right if England are not to be smothered by the weight of unrealistic expectation once again.

The Italian coach has had just two matches in charge and in that time has looked at 22 players.

"I've said that my first job is to get the team ready for the World Cup qualifying campaign," he insisted. "I'm happy because I thought we showed last night that we are making progress. I saw some very good things against a top-level team."

Capello's side secured a narrow 2-1 win against Switzerland at Wembley in his first match in charge but last night they didn't look like scoring a goal, never mind winning the match. The French goalkeeper Gregory Coupet didn't have to make a save of any consequence.

So, what was it that encouraged Capello? Well, no one could criticise England's commitment and the coach was particularly pleased that they kept battling for an equaliser, if not actually shooting at the goal, until the final whistle.

"The team showed they didn't want to lose," he said. "They played right to the end. This was the most positive thing considering the level of the opposition."

The French, remember, were without nine of their best players but will clearly be one of the favourites for the European title this summer when I suspect Capello will still be wondering where his match winners will come from for the World Cup qualifiers.

Ironically, one of his busiest players in the first-half was former captain David Beckham, still able at 32 to hit a vintage right-wing cross when given the time and space.

He played for an hour, getting himself booked for pulling the shirt of Franck Ribery, and left the field to a standing ovation. Quite rightly, Capello chose to start with him on the occasion of his 100th cap. But Beckham played within a safety zone around the halfway line and I believe that will not be good enough against top-class opposition in matches that matter.

Nonetheless the manager will have to give him further consideration because England's creative input is woefully low without him. Even as a bit-part player he could be valuable in the future.

The absence of Frank Lampard with a sudden illness also robbed England of midfield momentum and, with Gareth Barry and Owen Hargreaves filling defensive duties, the French were able to retain the initiative after Ribery's 30th-minute penalty for David James's clumsy challenge on Nicolas Anelka.

As a lone striker Wayne Rooney struggled at the front while the pace and power of David Trezeguet, Anelka and Ribery pulled the England defence all over the place.

Steven Gerrard was equally ineffective, working as the support striker to Rooney. "I wanted to play Rooney and Gerrard in the positions they currently play for their clubs," explained Capello.

Well, that wasn't very successful so at half-time he changed the formation to 4-4-2 and brought on Peter Crouch, Michael Owen, Joleon Lescott and Stewart Downing. Tactically, this is the line-up that best suits England's players.

The Newcastle striker spent 45 minutes chasing lost causes without getting close to scoring. Once the first name on the team sheet, Owen may now have to fight for a place.

There is little doubt now that Capello senses a growing urgency as he searches for the right personnel and formation for the World Cup campaign. "I'm very happy that I made the team use two different formations because my ideas are a lot clearer now," said Capello.

Well, let's hope so.