“Hmm. This place has changed dude!” Caesar.

Opposites attract. And by George England and Italy are polar opposites.

It looks like a new Anglo-Italian connection is about to be renewed.  Let’s see, first the FA sign “Don” Fabio Capello to add some meatballs to the English national team and then Italian and English clubs were paired together in the knock stage of the Champions League. AC Milan drew Arsenal while Internazionale and Liverpool will tangle legs and footie’s early in 2008.

Cool Britannia versus La Dolce Vita.

Then again, there really isn’t anything new in this. Anyone remember the Anglo-Italian Cups that lasted from 1969 to 1996? Long story short, it was a tournament that pitted teams from, you guessed it, England and Italy. For details regarding the beginning and end of the Anglo-Italian Cups please visit this link: www.rsssf.com/tablesa/angloitalian.html

While many don’t relish the thought of a foreigner coaching England, one can’t help that Capello is a perfect fit for England. Hey, if Jamie Oliver can go on an Italian pilgrimage cooking for Italians on national TV then the English can tolerate Capello for a few years.

It’s been a rough ride for the Queen’s offspring lately. England has simply not measured up in recent memory. The lads have met over the year super powers like Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy only to come up short.

For its part, Italy continues to experience success at both the club and national level. Capello feels it is time to do the same for England.

England has not won a major trophy since 1966. That was long ago. Luke Skywalker still didn’t know who his father was, The Beatles were still together while James Bond and Austin Powers were saving us from villainy.

Their expectations have never quite been met on the pitch though they have had some decent campaigns. World Cup Italia 1990 and the 1996 European Championships immediately come to mind. Nonetheless, woulda, coulda, shoulda does not win you titles and this is not acceptable to a nation that fancies itself a world power.

Reasons for why England has struggled are not the point here but what is often over looked is that there is a positive in hiring a foreign manager. England is clearly missing the final spice to glory. Sometimes organizations of all stripes and types get bottled up in group think to visualize what the right route to victory and success is. For this, we import ideas to refresh our minds.

Societies have been borrowing from each other forever. If you think your culture is immune to this then you’re an intellectual and cultural nationalistic snob and bore. Get that flag out of your ass.

In this light, England should be commended for being comfortable in its own skin to look abroad. They found a suitable candidate in Capello who is not only a great coach but one who truly wanted to coach England. His goal, and mark these words down, is to pour every ounce of blood, sweat and tears into bringing England a World Cup.

Is he delusional? A good case can be made that he is not.

England’s track record has been dismal in terms of collecting trophies but in terms of competitiveness they’re actually not that bad. Examining the ELO rankings for the last 30 years one finds England in fourth spot behind Brazil, Germany and Italy who hold 12 World Cups between them. Not bad when you think of it.

Is it a case of making adjustments and tweaking here and there? Who knows? However, don’t bet against Capello. He brings tactical sophistication, discipline and a results driven attitude that teeters on mad outspokenness to a soccer side that sorely misses this. Match this with England’s talent, sense of spirited play and gentlemanly conduct and it’s not hard to see why a number of Italian coaches have expressed interest and admiration for England. They see the perfect fit – Anglitalia!

In England they things they miss in Italy. In Capello, England will see what makes Italy tick.

If this doesn't work, then England will have  to accept  the fact that they suck.

Insert dead pan face here.