After presiding over England's first unbeaten calendar year since 1994, Capello has every reason to board a flight to Kiev for the draw for next summer's finals in confident mood.

Instead, the cagey Italian is wary.

Capello's chief concern are his players, who lived up to Michel Platini's assessment of being lions in the autumn and lambs in the spring prior to a World Cup campaign which started in chaos and ended in disaster.

But Capello is also worried about who his team could face in the group stages.

In a best-case scenario, Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic would provide the opposition.

The worst is a different matter altogether.

Even without the potential for meeting Germany, Italy and Russia who, like England, have been placed in Pot Two, Capello could still find himself preparing for matches against Spain, Portugal and France.

"I am concerned," he said. "I hope by the end of the season the players will be fast and fresh, like at this moment. That will be really important.

"This has always been the problem for England. They are really tired at the end of the season.

"I hope it will not be the same because the next Euros will be really tough competition. The teams who finished first, second and third in the World Cup, came from Europe.

"Also, there are really important teams; France, Russia, Portugal. At this moment the Euros are tougher than the World Cup."

Little wonder Capello's second December stopover will be in Basle, six days after his side learn their group fate, to discover whether Wayne Rooney will be allowed to play any part in it.

Currently suspended for all three matches following his dismissal in Montenegro, Rooney, and Capello, will appeal for leniency in the hope of shaving a match off the ban.

"I hope he will only be suspended for two games. The third could be really important," Capello added.

As he took in the progress made in recording friendly wins over Spain and Sweden, Capello declared England to be "one of the best teams".

It is an assessment few fans would be willing to make publicly given the debacle that unfolded in South Africa.

Nevertheless, the emergence of a group of young players, headed by Phil Jones but also including Danny Welbeck, Jack Rodwell and Kyle Walker, offers great hope for both Poland and Ukraine and beyond.

The odd man out is Andy Carroll, Capello's leading light 12 months ago but who has slipped from view to such an extent he can no longer guarantee selection for Liverpool.

After some cryptic comments about Carroll earlier last week, Capello has now softened his stance, although it is clear the Geordie has work to do if he is to gain one of those 23 precious departure tickets.

"I will monitor all the players during the next few months," Capello said. "If he returns to good condition and is in good form, he is one of the players that I have selected in the past.

"Carroll has always been in the provisional squad but what they all have to understand is that no-one is sure to be here."

In the past, Capello has spoken of his fears for Carroll, that his attitude to his chosen profession may not always be as he would wish.

Three goals this season do not represent a significant return for the 22-year-old, who at £35million is the most expensive British-born player.

Now however, the England chief insists he is not worried.

"With all young players you need to wait," he said. "He went from Newcastle to Liverpool. The pressure is different.

"Andy Carroll is a good player. He is a good talent. But he needs to score goals. For a forward it is like a drug."