LONDON — There is still resentment in some quarters that England has an Italian manager, but if Fabio Capello leads his adopted country to victory over Croatia next Wednesday to secure a place in the 2010 World Cup finals, any remaining xenophobia will be among a hard-core minority who probably wouldn't buy foreign cars.
In an ideal world England would have an English manager, just as other leading nations have home-born men in charge.
Capello took over from Steve McClaren, who was perceived to be the best of the English bunch after Sven-Goran Eriksson moved on in 2006. Credit to the Football Association for next time choosing the best man available rather than the best Englishman they could find.