Capello: Rooney in right frame of mind

Rooney was one of England's best performers in their 4-0 victory over Bulgaria on Friday night. However, his place in the team in Basle had been questioned by a number of tabloids after lurid claims in two Sunday newspapers.

The Manchester United striker travelled with the team to Switzerland, however, and Capello said he was confident the player was in the right state of mind to take his place on Tuesday night.

"Yes, he will play. During training he was really good and I spoke with him and he's happy to play," Capello said.

"I know the players when they want to play - that is really important.

"Against Bulgaria he was really, really good on the pitch. He will also be in a good situation tomorrow. I hope the performance of Rooney tomorrow will be the same as at Wembley.

"We are focused on the game, not about the private life of the players. We are here to play this game and train very well."

The focus on Rooney has at least taken some pressure off Capello, who received support from Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Although their careers have rarely crossed, both managers have been at the top of their profession for over two decades and will do battle at St Jakob Park.

While Hitzfeld masterminded a stunning victory over eventual champions Spain in the first match of Switzerland's World Cup campaign, his team failed to win another match and went home after the group phase.

Capello's England survived only one round further, since when both men have been criticised, the Swiss being booed by their own fans in Friday's draw with Australia.

Hitzfeld accepts dealing with such expectation is part of the job.

But when he looks back to South Africa and recalls the manner in which England bowed out, he finds the reaction against Capello quite staggering.

"I cannot understand the severe criticism Fabio Capello has had to cope with," said Hitzfeld.

"It all came after that match against Germany. But if that second English goal had been allowed, as it should have been, it would have been 2-2 at half-time and they would have had a massive psychological advantage.

"After that, they needed to commit themselves to a more attacking style and got caught on the counter-attack.

"That defeat was bad luck, not bad coaching, so I just do not understand all the criticism."