The Football Association are still reeling from the weekend expose that cost Lord Triesman his job as both chairman of the bid and chairman of the organisation as a whole.

FIFA are also to investigate the allegations made against the Russian and Spanish FAs contained within Lord Triesman's broadside to determine whether they contravened bid regulations.

The whole sorry mess has clearly had a negative effect on the chances of England winning the right to host the biggest football tournament on the planet, with Russia now assuming the role of favourites.

Former FA chairman Geoff Thompson is the man who has been charged with sorting out the mess ahead of the final decision in December this year.

However, Capello has issued a timely rallying cry as the FA try to shore up their position.

"I am confident we will still be able to host 2018," said the England coach.

"England is the perfect place to host the World Cup. The facilities and the stadiums are really good and it is the best country in the world to play football."

Although they are now in a position of weakness, some argue Triesman's exit will assist England in the long run.

His confrontational style was not to everyone's taste and Thompson has spent the past decade assiduously building up contacts within the global game which he can now use to the FA's advantage.

"My relationship with Lord Triesman was really good and I am sorry for what happened," reflected Capello. "But the chance to win the bid for 2018 is still the same.

"The people who have to decide will probably understand what has happened."

Meanwhile, Capello is delighted the long-awaited National Football Centre in Burton has moved significantly closer to being completed.

Mothballed for so long, the Burton project has now been given planning permission, which means buildings to house coaching and medical staff, plus equipment to compliment some of the best training pitches in the country, can start to be built under the guidance of former Football League chairman David Sheepshanks, who has taken over part of Triesman's old remit as temporary co-chairman of the FA.

"I spoke with David Sheepshanks who told me that in the next year it will be possible to build a hotel, gym and everything else," said Capello.

"I went to see it two years ago. The pitches are really good and it is in an excellent location.

"It will be really important for England to have one hub where you can train and where you can prepare managers and young players."

England captain Rio Ferdinand joined Capello in backing the 2018 bid, and he is confident FIFA will look beyond the allegations from Lord Triesman and see that the English bid has considerable merit.

Ferdinand said: "I think this country has got all the tools to hold a major tournament of that ilk.

"Obviously there's been a lot said, a lot happened over this last weekend.

"But the bid is bigger than any one individual and I think it's time to refocus on what the bid's about and the people that are in place to try to achieve that, and get on track now to try to get it over here in our country because we will be great hosts."

Ferdinand does not expect the current furore to have a lasting impact.

"People are going to come and go until the bid gets received or turned down," he said.

"One person going hopefully isn't going to alter the committee's opinion on whether we should hold it or not."