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SCOLARI TO AID ENGLAND'S CAUSE
Capello - thinks Scolari will do well at Chelsea.
Fabio Capello plans to consult World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as he seeks to restore England as a force in international football.
Capello has had the entire summer to mull over the Three Lions' failings after they were unable to qualify for Euro 2008 under his predecessor Steve McClaren.
He has pinpointed mental fragility and lack of confidence as areas in grave need of improvement and the former AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid manager hopes Scolari, the new Chelsea boss, may be able to provide some solutions.
The Brazilian won the World Cup in 2002 as coach of his homeland and also took Portugal to the last four in 2006 and the final of Euro 2004.
His international teams were renowned for their collective spirit as much as the undoubted quality of their football and Capello knows both have been sorely lacking from the England team in recent times.
He said: "While I know some managers very well, I want to know all of them better. I'm interested to see how Scolari works at Chelsea. I know him well from Roma - he's a good man and will do a good job."
Capello added: "The biggest challenge is getting individuals to play for England like they do for their clubs.
"There has been a lack of confidence among players and it's my job to rebuild that.
"There's a lot of pressure when playing for your country and this has perhaps weighed down too heavily on some players. We need to free them of that so they can play naturally, without fear.
"English players have always had a reputation for a great work ethic. But I've also been impressed by their level of skill and technique.
"This combination will help us succeed. I'm certainly very happy with the players I have in the England squad."
The Italian is already acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead given the hugely limited time he has with the players.
And he cites the need to develop a Scolari-style group mentality as one of his biggest priorities.
Capello told the League Managers Association's new magazine, The Manager: "You have to be clear about what you want to achieve and ensure the players understand this.
"When you're together for a longer period, it's important to develop relationships and build team spirit. Group mentality is even more important at international level."
