With an emphatic 5 - 1 drubbing of Croatia, England have qualified for next summer's World Cup with two games to spare. Not since EURO '96 has an English side created so much buzz. England have always had talent, but team chemistry is hard to come by, and with manager Fabio Capello seeming to own the keys to the engine that is making England run, the Three Lions look to be one of the favorites heading to South Africa 2010.
Capello has crafted an England side full of ego's into a tight nit squad that play for country and pride. A rejuvenated John Terry leads a defense that no longer is willing to accept the role given to them. With right-back Glenn Johnson and left-back Ashley Cole eager to push forward given any opportunity, more space is given to the midfielders to perform more consistently, allowing Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard more space in the midfield. Capello is slowly turning the English side into an attacking minded team, also known as Italian style of football.
