Posted By: Shrygue
via Computer and Video Games
Capello, famous for his hard-line approach to discipline, has given the England squad a number of new rules to abide by under his management.
According to the Daily Mail, they include:
- A ban on the 'PlayStation culture'
- A ban on visitors, including agents and friends, from the team hotel in Hertfordshire
- Players must eat at the same table
- They have to be on time for meals
- No walking around in shorts and flip-flops. They must wear England track suits
- instead and suits and ties to games
- No mobile phones in public areas
"If Fabio Capello is that concerned about winning with England, he may have missed a trick by banning PlayStations," writes The Times' chief football correspondent, Martin Samuel.
"What happened to playing to your strengths? PlayStation was never the problem for England's footballers anyway. PlayStation, we're good at. If Steve McClaren could have found a way of challenging Croatia to a game of Donkey Kong, he might have stood a chance. No gadgets, Fabio? Big mistake. It is the football that needs banning. That is what baffles us."
Last year Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said that 'Xbox culture' was damaging football, while West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green said that England's footballing failures were down to gaming. Maybe Green will get a call up to Capello's second England squad if the manager gets wind of his feelings on the matter.
Capello began his England tenure with a two-one victory over Switzerland at Wembley in a friendly match on Wednesday night, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.