England manager, Fabio Capello, blames football’s off field problems on the amount of money that modern players earn.

The likes of John Terry are on a contract worth over £160,000 per week and Capello says that this is the reason for so much developed jealousy and personal problems in the game.

Capello is quite within his rights to come out and make statements such as this because he has lost the services of Wayne Bridge, England’s second best left back, to an off field issue he held with Terry.

Fabio Capello said: “The private life is a big problem for some players, but also brings big problems for the clubs and for me. It’s always the same. Young players, young boys, rich boys, this is the problem. It’s not only here. In Italy, in Germany, in Spain and in every country where football is so important. They have to be an example to the children, for all the fans. For that reason they have to stay careful and sacrifice something in their lives. It will be really important in this last period to be careful in their own lives. I ask them to take no chances.”

“I told the players we have to recreate the spirit of the group and train really focused. I want to speak about the performance. I want to speak about the style that we played, only about what really happened during the game. Not outside the pitch.”

“I know they (England fans) are worried after what has happened, but I hope they will help us. They have to understand that the private life of some players has not been so good, but that on the pitch it will be different. We are dressed in the England shirt and it’s important for us that they help us.”

England have a very quick chance to test out how the team spirit is holding up ahead of the World Cup when they take on Egypt, the newly crowned Champions of Africa, at Wembley this evening.

Hopefully the football can take over and we will all be talking about what an impressive performance the team has put in as opposed to the number of off field problems, which threaten to split the team at such an important time.

Key player, Steven Gerrard, added: “It was short and sweet and he told us to focus on the football. He reiterated that we have responsibilities as players both on and off the pitch. All the players take it as read what the manager says. We understand what he wants, listen and take note.”

Capello will be slightly annoyed by the amount of media stories surrounding his players. He said that discipline was a big factor, which would help the team to success and it is likely to be emphasised even more from now on.

England will only win the World Cup if the players play for each other and this seems almost impossible in the current football climate.