Tournament News

Pienaar: Eng won't win SWC

2010-03-16 13:20
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Steven Pienaar (File)
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Johannesburg - Although Steven Pienaar has opined that England have improved under Fabio Capello, he believes the Three Lions will struggle against top opposition at the World Cup.

The Everton midfielder has been in fine fettle in the English Premier League and is well placed to comment on Capello's set-up.

Pienaar is impressed with what the Italian manager has achieved with the 1966 World Cup winners.

"They have got the players and they've got a manager (Capello) who's finally got them to play as a team," Pienaar told South African weekly newspaper Soccer Week.

"They have a reason to feel confident, definitely, because in the past there were egos in their team but they play as a team now, no more about individuals. But we have to wait and see if they can live up to the challenge. We have to do it on the field and not in the newspapers."

Despite professing his admiration for Capello, Pienaar has tipped traditional powerhouses Germany, Italy, Argentina and European champions Spain to fight it out for the Jules Rimet Trophy.

"I have always said Argentina. Spain is also in the mix and you can never rule out Italy and Germany. Italy know how to win tournaments and the Germans have a good team, so they also have a chance to win it," he said.

But Pienaar played down England's chances of winning football's ultimate prize in South Africa later this year.

"I'm not a fan of the England team. I think teams can get a result against England." 

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