Capello's focused on finals

Just one win from their remaining three games will be enough to ease the Three Lions into next summer's finals and provide Capello with the chance to emulate Sir Alf Ramsey, who unforgettably guided his team to glory in 1966. Yet it is not known for certain whether Capello intends to remain in charge beyond next summer.

The Italian's contract is due to run until after Euro 2012. However, there is an escape clause, which would allow either party to terminate in 12 months' time. Capello said: "My future - a distraction? No. Impossible,"

He added: "Don't worry. All the time I am clear in my decisions.

"I am very happy the players have embraced what I am doing. The rest is a decision for the FA, not me. But it is the future."

The future appears to be very bright on the evidence of last season as a whole.

A six-goal hammering of Andorra on its own cannot be used as a reliable guide.

But throw in away wins over Croatia and Belarus, 26 goals in seven games, eight of which have been scored by Wayne Rooney, who now tops the goalscoring charts, and a picture emerges of a team finally playing to its potential.

And, according to the coach, the key is confidence. So hard to win, yet so easy to lose, it can make a world of difference to any indivudual, particularly at the highest level, where self-doubt can take a nagging hold.

"I can't change the level of the players," he admitted. "Their club managers can work with these players every day. They can improve everything. When you play with the national team confidence is very important. Now we have confidence. The fear is going. It has not gone yet but it is going,"