As an American living in the US hoping that our own domestic league MLS will inspire native home-grown talent, I can empathize with the English fearing that Capello's appointment could prevent the rise of the FA's English coaches/managers.

England has clearly chosen a safe, defensive minded tried-and-true foreign coach. This man will attempt to lead you into the qualifiers without the defensive slip-ups that cost you the Russia game, for example.

If you want an English coach to be selected at a time when it seems that English football needs a successful qualifying campaign, then you better clamor for English coaches at the Premiership elite club level. Not to take anything away from the level of play offered by Arsene, Benitez, Sir Ferguson or Avram, but where is the outcry to have English coaches at the helm of elite English clubs?

Pablo, Atlanta, USA

Capello can be successful but i believe this will be possible only if he chooses the team and the game links between the players over individuals. The best eleven for England is not the 11 best english players put together.
My elelven would be in that spirit:
Foster

Richards Ferdinand Terry Cole

Hargreaves Scholes
Beckham Young

Rooney Owen(Smith)

www.contre-attaque.fr

Erwan, Montcy notre dame, France

Now forgive my limited knowledge on the subject, but didn't anyone living within the Roman empire become a de facto Roman? How did it get to this? Arguing about ancient history, I asks ya?

Good luck, Fabio. Hopefully, you can whip our over-paid, arrogant stars into shape and win us a trophy before international football is completely destroyed by the greed of clubs.

CJ Ross, London, England

Stefan, your argument is paper-thin as you pluck a figure such as 30% out of the air without any evidence to support it or much understanding of history. The notion of nationalism only developed as we know it now in the 19th century, nearly 1500 years after the Romans had left this country, therfore it is not possible to talk of "Italians" and "Englishmen" by comparison with the Roman conquest. Nationality, if it can be defined, is about shared culture, language, politics and identity. In this respect, modern day Italy and England are very contrasting countries - Capello doesn't even speak the language and has not lived here. Indeed, one of the challenges that the English game faces is its isolation from the rest of Europe in respect of its lack of focus on technique and skill over kick and rush football. Presumably you would argue that the Romans were responsible for this too?!

Tom H, Ipswich, UK

May I recommend to Stefan the marvellous "Blood of the Isles" by Bryan Sykes. I seem to recall the "Romans" left very little genetic legacy in this green and pleasant land. Perhaps in part because few Roman legionnaries were of "Italian" heritage by 43 AD.

I welcome Mr Capello and hope he isn't forced into trophy selections. For goodness' sake let this one have time to settle in before he is harrangued.

FW, London, UK

I'm afraid I find Stefan's comments way off the mark. There is a huge difference between a first generation foreigner playing in the premier league and a first generation foreigner coming over to manage the national side. If his comments were a veiled reference to Mourinho- that I can understand - but Jose has won the respect and trust of players, other managers and fans over a number of years in the UK. Capello no doubt has pedigree and respect, but has not lived in England, coped with the (totally) different culture to Italy, and pressures, not to mention the press. What we are looking at is Capello the man and his potential to lead England- not his genetic/ cultural background. Also it is spelt 'Caribbean'.

J, London, UK

Where have we seen the happy smiles and heard all these wise pronunciations before, not too long ago unfortunately?

As a football fan I wanna know what Capello will do to earn his pay packet “making players proud to wear an English shirt” is an over abused cliché that forces one to ask why does the FA need a foreign import to implement this?

This appointment stinks of failure and it will be all the more painful when you look at the fact that Capello will bank $9 million before his first competitive match.

R Ferguson, Moscow, Russia

A national team should be a national team. The coach is part of the team. The coach of the English team should be English.
If they don!t have a good coach, bad luck.
Some countries don't have a good striker.

joaldelm, Antwerpen, Belgium.

England once upon a time was ruled by Italians eg the Romans. What they did for this country??? They established law and order built and helped with valuable know how on buildings roads etc. Maybe in the genetic background of England around 30% comes from Italy so he is not such a foreigner after all is he?
What is the big difference between him and player who comes from first generation foreigners living in England lets say Afro-Carabian?

Stefan, London, England