Former England football boss loved ruining Royal Family tribute and accuses FA of breaching contract

Former England boss Fabio Capello has opened up on his heroics for Italy back in 1973

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 16/10/2023

- 11:03

England lost to Italy back in November 1973

Former England boss Fabio Capello has admitted he loved scoring for Italy against the Three Lions back in 1973.

And he also takes great pleasure in the fact his heroics came on the same day Princess Anne married Mark Phillips.


In 1973, England locked horns with Italy at the old Wembley.

They lost 1-0, with Capello scoring the only goal of the game to give the visitors a first-ever victory in the country.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne married Mark Phillips back in 1973

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And the Italian has now opened up on his goal in an interview with the Daily Mail, admitting he enjoyed denying England more celebrations after Princess Anne had married Phillips earlier in the day.

"We had already beaten England in Turin that summer and I'd scored in that game too, but at Wembley it was different," he said.

"There were a lot of Italians in the crowd who were described as 20,000 waiters.

"It was very satisfying to score that goal and dedicate it to those 20,000 waiters - very nice indeed!

"I know how difficult it can be to live and work abroad so to do that for those Italians in England was great.

"It was a very intense game at the old Wembley, which for me represented the history of football.

"We had a very good team but I must admit that our best player that day was our goalkeeper, Dino Zoff. He made two crucial saves.

"But my goal broke a curse for us because we'd never been able to win in England before."

He then stuck the knife in by adding: "I remember one of the Queen's daughters had got married.

"There was a suggestion that if England won, it would have been dedicated to her."

Back in 2007, English football stooped to a new low.

They failed to qualify for the European Championships the following year, with Croatia ending that dream with a shock win at Wembley.

England then opted to sack Steve McClaren and bring in Capello, who was considered one of the best managers in the world at the time.

The Three Lions were able to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by winning nine of their 10 matches.

However, at the tournament itself, England struggled and were eliminated by Germany in the round of 16.

England proceeded to qualify for Euro 2012.

But, that year, there was chaos when John Terry was charged for using racial language towards Anton Ferdinand during a match between Chelsea and QPR.

The FA found Terry guilty of racism and he was later stripped of the England captaincy.

That riled Capello, who would then quit his post as manager just months before the European Championships.

And the former Real Madrid boss has accused the FA of a contractual breach - insisting he had been told the captaincy would be a matter decided by himself, rather than the board.

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Fabio Capello England

Fabio Capello fell out with the FA when John Terry was stripped of the England captaincy

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"To work at Wembley and to be the coach of England was wonderful," he said.

"And it was disappointing to leave the national team because of differences of opinion over John Terry.

"We had qualified for Euro 2012 but I couldn't accept that the captaincy was decided by the board, given it was in my contract that I would decide the captain, as the coach.

"I couldn't accept that my level of leadership was reduced.

"I was happy with everything I did and what I was allowed to do working for the FA. It was a fantastic time."