England manager Fabio Capello attends a media conference at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, September 5, 2008.EDDIE KEOGH
A prerequisite for accepting soccer management positions, especially at the international level, should be the proven ability to solve convoluted problems.
While Fabio Capello has demonstrated he is a master at dealing with issues that could potentially sink any of the illustrious teams he has managed over the years - AC Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid to name a few - it does appear that, as the England national team manager, he will be tested to the limit prior to the kickoff of this summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Capello's recent decision - removing John Terry as England captain as a result of his indiscretions with teammate Wayne Bridge's now ex-girlfriend - was swift and decisive.
As absurd as the whole fiasco was, the simple hard line which Capello took was reflective of a manager fully in touch with the soccer landscape - be it internal team culture, outside pressures of public opinion, or his own internal ideological compass.
Now, though, he has a few more issues to wade through.
As with Murphy's law, one should have predicted the Bridge dilemma would publicly have played out one way or another. But with Ashley Cole suffering a severe ankle injury (he's out at least three months), it presents a problem of significance.
Under normal circumstances, Bridge would be next in line at the left fullback spot, but Capello will not want internal team harmony to be disrupted. Allowing a Shakespeare-type plot to develop by including both Terry and Bridge on the roster will not be permitted.
In an ideal world for Capello and England, Bridge's retirement from international soccer would be a significant, if not poignant, blessing at this stage. Solving the "playing problem" using other human resources would then be less problematic. Any nanosecond a manager spends on worrying about a player's mental fibre, commitment, negativity or loyalty, is energy sapping and counterproductive. Capello knows this and will want to avoid it.
Nevertheless, with Cole out of the running, it makes the decision for Capello to eliminate Bridge much more difficult because in many eyes he is the natural replacement at left back. One saving grace, however, is Bridge's current form at the club level has been dismal.
Do not be surprised some time this week, if the player himself confirms his own inadequacy by announcing he is stepping down from international duty.
While it will be a relief of sorts for Capello, it will not stop the problems from appearing from all sides: David Beckham bench-sitting at Milan and clearly not the Beckham of a few years ago; a goalkeeping quandary; and back-four stability are a just a few.
Such is the life of an international coach for England, where the depth of talent is not that of Italy, Brazil or Germany. If he didn't know this before, Capello sure knows it now.
Canada to play Argentina
Congratulations to the Canadian Soccer Association on landing a game for the men's national team against Argentina in Buenos Aires on May 24.
Considering the Argentine squad will embark on its South Africa World Cup venture shortly after the encounter, it is a real coup to land a game of such significance.
It does however put Canadian head coach Stephen Hart under some significant pressure as he aims to rebuild a team through the blooding of younger players that will be a little out their depth in such an environment. His team selection, tactical preparation and game management will therefore be tested to the limit.
Being top-heavy with youth would be a mistake for this particular game, and so expect the full contingent of "Canadian stars" to be present for this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
On the pitch, a counterattacking posture would be the correct tactical approach. Playing Brazil in an exhibition in Seattle two years ago - Canada performing admirably in a 3-2 loss to the soccer giant of South America - is one thing, competing against Argentina, in Buenos Aires, on the eve of the World Cup, is a different ballgame.
Any other approach could put the Canadians in a position to receive a pasting, which Hart will want to avoid.
It is the harsh reality of international soccer. If you are the inferior opponent, you can still thwart better opposition through clever preparation and a little tactical nous , but if you get it all wrong, it can often be a humbling experience. (Reference: 2006 World Cup in Germany - Argentina 6-0 over Serbia and Montenegro.)
The CSA and Hart deserve credit for persistently pursuing this encounter after the recent youth internationals with the younger version of the Albicelestes.
It takes guts to take this game on this stage and therefore it is a positive move in the right direction.