Capello set for fixtures frustration

Fabio Capello's first official engagement as England manager was threatening to end in frustration in Zagreb on Monday.

Capello and FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking headed the delegation at the World Cup fixtures meeting.

While the Italian, who is currently formulating his plans for the February 6 friendly with Switzerland, had his own negotiating agenda, which probably did not involve a trip to Kazakhstan in either mid-winter or high summer, the delegations from Croatia, the Ukraine and Belarus were thought unlikely to reach any compromise over their own plans.

A lengthy meeting was predicted in an attempt to thrash out some kind of agreement in the knowledge FIFA would step in and impose a fixture schedule on all six countries - including minnows Andorra - in Zurich on Wednesday if the impasse remained.

Such a scenario is unlikely to appeal to the FA, who traditionally prefer not to play competitive games in June, even though their win over Estonia in Tallinn last year proved one of the highlights of Steve McClaren's short reign as manager.

Having negotiated a schedule top heavy with home games at the end of the abysmal Euro 2008 campaign, Capello and Brooking might be looking for a more even spread this time around, while an away double-header is also likely at some point in an effort to cut down on travelling time.