Lippi, Parreira back Capello to guide England to World Cup glory

London, Mar 2(ANI): World Cup winning coaches Marcelo Lippi and Carlos Alberto Parreira reckon that England manager Fabio Capello can emulate them to bag the reputed trophy during this summer's tournament in South Africa.

Lippi and Parreira believe that Capello has transformed England's fortunes since succeeding Steve McClaren in the wake of failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Lippi, whose Italy are the reigning world champions, said: "Fabio has shown already that he can make the same success with a national team as he has enjoyed in club football. Look at the record England had in qualifying and you can see he has made a difference."

"Can he win it? Why not? England have great players and Fabio is a great coach. He has all the technical ability to succeed and the summer could be a very good moment for England," The Daily Express quoted Lippi, as saying.

"When we won in 2006 we had a lot of quality - good players with a strong mentality and we performed in all the right moments. But you also need luck. Every coach who wins needs luck to favour him when the moment arrives," he added.

Meanwhile, and Parreira, who ended Brazil's 24-year wait for a world title by guiding the country to success in 1994, believes that Capello's influence can inspire England to end their 44-year drought.

"I really do believe England can win. You have players like Wayne Rooney, and Capello has given some kind of competitiveness to the team. They play more as a block," Parreira said."They defend better now and they are very good in transition, and in the speed of their counter-attacks. England have a better chance of getting to the final than they have ever had since they won it in 1966," he added. (ANI)