After presiding over five friendlies, the Italian finally takes charge of the Three Lions in World Cup qualifying combat as the arduous road to South Africa begins in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium at Montjuic.

Part-time Andorra should provide little problem but it is the sterner examination which awaits in Croatia four days later that will really set the tone for Capello's time in charge.

The backdrop is not encouraging. Those five warm-up games may have yielded three wins but one of them came in Trinidad in what was effectively a practice match.

And the two heavyweight contests against France and the Czech Republic would both have ended in defeat had it not been for Joe Cole's scrambled equaliser at Wembley earlier this month.

In addition, Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves, both of whom Capello spoke warmly of earlier in the week, are out, while Michael Owen is less than fully fit and Capello seems no nearer getting the best from Wayne Rooney.

Little wonder there are some already questioning Capello's £6million salary. Not that the former Juventus coach is bothered about that.

As usual, he intends to keep his counsel, ignore the critics and focus on the job.

"I know if we win I will be the best and if I lose I am the stupid man," he said.

"That kind of pressure is normal. It is my job.

"If you can't take it you can't do the job."

Capello has already had a taste of what is about to be unleashed upon him.

Hugely critical comments by Harry Redknapp in the immediate aftermath of the Czech struggle were seized upon, particularly the use of Gerrard, who Redknapp - and most others it has to be said - felt was being misused on the left wing.

Capello rejected the observation and still does.

Nevertheless, he sought out Redknapp in a cramped Fratton Park corridor last Monday for a more constructive exchange of views.

"It was a very friendly meeting," said Capello.

"I was not upset. Everyone can see the game and say what they think. I respect the opinions of all the managers."

Some may argue that Italy, with its football-specific newspapers and Spain, where acres of print are devoted to Real Madrid every day, can be no worse than England in the veracity of its coverage.

"Different," suggested Capello. "Usually you would not speak about the national team manager.

"Here it is different. Here everyone has an opinion. I have seen Portsmouth twice already but I do not speak about those games. It is very important to (have) respect."

Capello was quick to assure anyone who wanted to know that his comments did not point to Redknapp lacking respect, merely of differing views.

"I have no problems with Redknapp," he added.

Capello's predecessor Steve McClaren could offer some sound advice on Andorra.

The part-timers were supposed to be mere whipping boys during the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign but a goalless first-half in the stadium England return to on Saturday led to some of the worst abuse ever witnessed, with McClaren bearing the brunt of a barrage from a 15,000-strong travelling army.

Eventually, Gerrard, in one of his finest displays for England, came to the rescue in typically swashbuckling style, although it proved only a temporary reprieve for McClaren.

The Liverpool captain will be missing in Barcelona this time around, which should see Cole restored to his left-sided berth, although the choice between the Chelsea man and Stewart Downing, who provides genuine width, is close.

If Owen is overlooked when the squad is named tomorrow evening - "I need fit players" was Capello's midweek assessment - and Dean Ashton's "so, so" performance against Manchester City sees him drop down the list of candidates, it is difficult to see changes to Capello's most recent strikeforce, meaning no place for Peter Crouch.

Indeed, with no Owen, no Gerrard, no Hargreaves and no Michael Carrick - the latter two wrecking Capello's hopes of playing a pair of holding men in midfield against Croatia - it is difficult to see many changes at all.

Shaun Wright-Phillips' move from Chelsea to Manchester City has come too late to influence selection this time around, leaving David Beckham and David Bentley vying for the right-sided berth.

After a solid, if unspectacular performance at Wembley, Beckham flew to Beijing for the Olympics handover and is now back in Los Angeles.

Capello is monitoring the air miles closely. But amid the discussion over Beckham's future, he has noticed inconsistency.

"When I didn't call him up for the first match there was massive uproar. Now you are telling me I should not call him up," smiled Capello.

"I looked at the Czech game again and he ran a lot, as much as the other players, maybe a little bit more.

"He did not do anything amazing but sometimes he can be very dangerous.

"I look at his schedule. But no-one is untouchable."