As the designated away team, it was always likely England would be forced to wear their change strip, as they did against Slovenia last night, to avoid a clash with their old rivals.

But by again electing for red shorts, as opposed to the white ones they intended to adorn in their 'away' strip, they can wear exactly the same colours as they did last night.

It is believed to be the players' preference anyway and they have never lost wearing all red, as they had done on four occasions prior to the Slovenia encounter.

If he is looking for omens, Capello received another one as well given England's final training session will take place at their Rustenburg base on Saturday.

For the second match running they have been informed the state of the pitch in Bloemfontein is not in a decent enough condition to allow either side to train on it 24 hours before kick-off.

Instead, Capello will run the rule over his men much closer to home, with less chance of being spied upon, before taking the short flight south for an early evening press conference.