Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Manchester City manager, believes the FA “cannot go wrong” if, as expected, Fabio Capello is appointed as the new England manager. The Swede, however, is also of the belief that Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Marcelo Lippi could do the job just as well.

Eriksson, the former England manager, is well of aware of the tactical abilities of Capello, the former Juventus, Roma and AC Milan manager, from their time managing in opposition in Italian club football.

“I have known Fabio Capello for many years,” Eriksson said. “He is a very good man and manager. His record speaks for itself. When you talk about this level [international] and mention Mourinho, Lippi, Capello, Ferguson and Wenger you cannot go wrong.

“Of course Capello will treat the players right. If you are winning big titles, you always have big stars in your team. Capello is one of the best managers you can find.”

Capello has only rudimentary English, but Eriksson does not foresee that as a problem. “It certainly wasn’t a problem for me as I spoke to him in Italian!” he said.

Despite the FA seemingly being ready to appoint Capello either later today or tomorrow, Rai Sport, the Italian state TV broadcaster, says it wants him to continue working for them through to Euro 2008 regardless of his England commitments.

Capello is under contract with the TV company, where he works as a pundit on Italian football games. “We have to wait for the initial announcement but we will do everything we can for our collaboration to continue at least until Euro 2008,” Massimo De Luca, the Rai Sport director, said. "This Sunday, Capello will be with us but on the 23rd he will be absent because he has a prior engagement.

"We hope to make him available on Sundays as the Premier League is played on Saturdays. But he could also broadcast from London.”

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