World Cup: Capello snaps at photographers
Updated on 09 June 2010
Exclusive: Channel 4 News video of Fabio Capello's angry clash with photographers at England's training ground as Keme Nzerem reports from South Africa.
Capello took exception to his players being filmed inside a building which also houses a medical room. He demanded to know "Why do you take photos of the rooms? No excuses".
It is the first time the Italian has lost his temper with the photographers who follow the England national side and is thought to stem from pictures being taken of the players on their safari trip on Tuesday.
After making his feelings known Capello stood angrily staring at the snappers, before turning to walk on to the training pitch, with his players following shortly afterwards.
Channel 4 News correspondent Keme Nzerem in South Africa
So the famously taciturn Capello vents his spleen on cameras snapping away at Wayne Rooney in the treatment room. Its certainly a window into the tension behind the sunny veneer at camp England.
For the last few days the FA has been dancing an awkward tango with the press pack; indeed there are echoes of Baden Baden as the cameras followed Rio to hospital, then the squad to the golf course and of course yesterday on safari.
Securing these images of our intrepid boys has all been achieved without a great deal of co-operation from the FA, which has lead to a somewhat cloak and dagger farce as journalists leave the daily press briefing surmising how and where the team will be spending their afternoon.
Capello's outburst wasn't out of the blue. But there was a shard of light cast on proceedings this afternoon - Joe Cole telling the press conference the squad had joked that maybe some of the snappers lying in bushes for them during their game drive would be eaten by lions.
There were, for a moment, laughs all round.
It was later confirmed there would be no access to training for photographers on Thursday, although this was not a knee-jerk reaction to events of the past 24 hours. The move, which was arranged within the England schedule, followed FIFA guidelines of allowing one session behind closed doors in the build-up to each game.
Meanwhile, Shaun Wright-Phillips returned to training as England continued their preparations for Saturday's Group C opener against the United States in Rustenburg.
Keeping the home flag flying
The flag of St George will fly above Downing Street during the World Cup to show support for the England team, David Cameron told the House of Commons today.
In reply to a question from Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, the prime minister announced: "There was some question that this was going to have a cost impact, but I've managed to cut through that and I can say that, at no additional cost to the taxpayer, the flag of St George will fly above Downing Street during the World Cup."
No other home nation has qualified for the 2010 World Cup in south Africa, and Mr Cameron said he was sure MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would get behind England.
"For the purposes of this, I'm looking at all the benches here and I'm sure that everyone in the house, no matter what part of the United Kingdom they come from, will be cheering 'Come on England!'"
A spokesperson for the Wales first minister, Carwyn Jones, told Channel 4 News: "The first minister wishes the England team every success in the World Cup.
"He is looking forward to seeing some outstanding football over the next few weeks and, most of all, he hopes that the people of South Africa enjoy some real economic benefit from hosting the World Cup."
The union flag is normally flown over Downing Street.
With England's World Cup campaign beginning in three days, Capello was hoping for all his players available.
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With Wright-Phillips now recovered from the minor knee injury which forced him to miss training on Tuesday, the only absentees were Ledley King and James Milner - both of whom did solo sessions in the gym.
For King it was a normal day considering he rarely trains with the main group due to his knee problems, while Milner was allowed a light session after reporting a high temperature.
Although Gareth Barry has ruled himself out of Saturday's game, Capello has yet to do so and the Manchester City midfielder did train with the main group again, proving his recent ankle problem is now behind him.
