JOE COLE feels the 2-1 win over Switzerland at Wembley was the "perfect result" as Fabio Capello's reign as England manager got off to a positive start at Wembley.
After making eight changes from the last match under Steve McClaren, a new-look England started slowly against the Euro 2008 joint-hosts, as the players took time to settle into their 4-5-1 formation.
However, it was a fine run into the left side
of the penalty area from Chelsea midfielder Cole five minutes before the interval which set up Jermaine Jenas for the opening goal of Capello's reign.
After the Swiss levelled just before the hour, England rallied again and restored their lead when substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips converted a cross from captain Steven Gerrard.
There remains, of course, plenty of hard work ahead for the Italian and his squad if they are to first qualify for the next World Cup and then hope to have an impact on the tournament in South Africa.
Following the disappointment of failure to reach this summer's European Championships, Cole believes the performance against Switzerland was the ideal response.
"It was nice to get a win under our belts at Wembley after the last game, and it was the perfect result really," he said. "We did not win three, four or five nil, with everyone getting too excited. It is something to build on and there were some good performances."
Cole added: "We took everything on board and are all happy with the work we have put in over the three days.
"Any manager coming in wants to get his ideas across, they have worked hard and so have we.
"He speaks great English, obviously he has given his reasons for not speaking (in English] to the media. But we all understood our jobs and can only get stronger."
The full article contains 316 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
