Capello can reflect on a successful 2008 where his side made huge strides towards the World Cup and altered the atmosphere of Steve McClaren's disastrous reign where the boss larked around in training and called players by their nicknames.

The days of 'Stevie G', 'Wazza' and 'Lamps' are now a thing of the past - and Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard have been among the players to help England maintain a 100% record in qualifiers this season.

"I am a friend of the players but I prefer to stay (at a distance)," revealed Capello.

"I stay with the players sometimes in the medical room with the physios but it's not important to play cards or games with the players. It's not important to me to be one of the lads.

"The important thing is respect. I always say a manager is one against 24 always - there is one boss, one leader being judged by 24 players, in every moment he is under scrutiny and it's important the players know that is my role. The leader is the leader."

Another part of Capello's managerial style is holding team meetings rather than speaking one on one with players.

It is not a case of naming and shaming but a method to make sure the whole squad is clear about his intentions.

"I prefer to speak together in a meeting," said the Italian. "My meetings are focused on different points. Five, seven, eight or sometimes 10 points.

"I speak alone with a player when I can understand he is not in a good moment, to help him. And sometimes you want to speak to players individually when you want different things in a game. Only this.

"But I prefer the meeting always together with different points. Sometimes in the same meeting I speak about the keeper, I speak about defenders, forwards, the movement of the team.

"I think it's very important all the players understand what I want and can see the mistakes we did. It's very important."

England have been singing from the same hymn sheet after Capello got to work.

Their only defeat was against France and Capello rates that loss as a turning point as he saw his team play well for half an hour. His view was that if they could play well for 30 minutes, they could also play well for 90.

"This year we work a lot around the mind of the players," said Capello.

"But sometimes when you arrive at World Cups - I've played there - it's different."

However, fans have been thinking about the finals in South Africa and their hopes of success have been boosted by the friendly win in Germany where Capello's second string impressed.

"It's been step forward, step forward," said Capello.

"I'm very happy because the last game against Germany we played very well.

"The first 11 was new players, some players who hadn't played a lot of games for us, and we won and this is very important for the future.

"We had another (stepping) stone for the future."

Progress this year has seen Capello compared to World Cup-winning boss Sir Alf Ramsey, but Capello said: "Someone spoke to me about this big manager but we have to wait. He's up here - I'm still down here.

"It is a very long way to arrive at the level of Sir Alf Ramsey - it is difficult and very, very long."

Even if England succeed under Capello, he hopes it will be part of sustained success rather than the drought suffered after 1966.

"I hope you will speak about me. But not after 40 years! I hope you speak about me as a really important manager - but for the sake of English football not after 40 years," added Capello.