Fabio Capello has claimed that England "play tired and with fear" as he cast doubt over their prospects at this summer's FIFA World Cup.
The Italian became the first non-Englishman to manage the Three Lions upon his appointment in 2008, overseeing just one tournament — the ill-fated 2010 World Cup, where England arrived as one of the favourites yet were eliminated in the Round of 16.
Capello departed following John Terry's removal as captain, but has since pointed to longstanding weaknesses in the English game. The Premier League offers no winter break, while England remains one of the few nations to persist with two domestic cup competitions.
Xavi Simons makes Tottenham fanbase admission following brutal Brighton draw
Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres praises two Tottenham legends risking Gunners fan fury
This places a considerable burden on players, and Capello argues that England's stars have consistently arrived at major tournaments fatigued, with their minutes and workloads frequently far exceeding those of their European counterparts.
Speaking to the BBC about England's chances, the Italian said: "Always the same, England arrive at the World Cup tired and they play with fear," via The Mirror.
His remarks regarding fear were directed at England's style of play, which has long attracted criticism for being overly cautious. He pointed to their approach in the Euro 2020 final, where Luke Shaw put them 1-0 up inside the opening minute, only for England to retreat into a largely defensive shape, inviting Italy forward before conceding the equalizer and ultimately losing on penalties.
"I remember the game against Italy and then after 10, 15 minutes they stopped playing," said Capello, who urged Thomas Tuchel to change that approach. "Long balls and they played with fear. This is the problem for England - it's tiring and fear. The manager, he has to cancel it."
England have not tasted major tournament glory since 1966, yet have come agonisingly close on several recent occasions. Defeat in the Euro 2024 final made them the first nation to suffer back-to-back losses in the tournament's final.
They enter the World Cup on the back of a commanding qualifying campaign and have been drawn alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Talisman Harry Kane will arrive at the tournament having just enjoyed the most prolific goalscoring season of his career, with Bayern Munich still chasing a treble.