England coach Fabio Capello is an expert soccer tactician, an avid fine art collector, an opera connoisseur and a world traveler. Now he’s adding another hobby: amateur shrink.
Capello said yesterday that he will study the mental state of goalie Robert Green, whose gaffe hurt England in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the United States, before selecting his keeper to face Algeria on Friday.
“We have to wait to decide on Green,” Capello said. “We will think about this problem psychologically.”
Green seemed to be willing to spend some time on the couch.
“The manager has to answer whether he will stick with me,” he said, “but the important thing is I’m ready and willing to work on it mentally.”
Goalkeeper David James is understood to be unhappy at being overlooked. England management feels James is still struggling with a minor knee complaint they believe has hindered his practices.
England’s campaign was hit by more problems yesterday when defender Ledley King (groin) was ruled out for up to three weeks.
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Brazilian legend Pele launched a broadside in the Brazilian media against Argentina coach Diego Maradona, saying he only took the job for financial reasons.
“Maradona accepted the job as he needed work and needed the money,” Pele said. “I saw how Argentina qualified with difficulty. But it is not Maradona’s fault; it is the fault of those who put him in charge.”
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North Korea is ranked 105th, lowest in the tournament, but No. 1 Brazil, its opponent today, is wary of an upset like the one North Korea pulled in 1966, when it beat Italy en route to the quarterfinals in its only previous World Cup appearance.
North Korean coach Kim Jong-Hun said he is plotting one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
“We know we need to win to reach the knockout phase,” Kim said, “so no matter who we’re up against, we’ll target the three points.”
Kim bristled during his news conference when a South Korean reporter speaking in Korean referred to his nation as “North Korea” — rather than its official name, the Democratic Republic of Korea.
“There’s no such country named ‘North Korea,’ ” Kim said testily. “Next question.”