Fabio Capello will bring the curtain down on a painful year for England by offering hope of a brighter future in Wednesday s friendly against France at Wembley.
Capello ends 2010 with his previously unblemished reputation significantly tarnished by England s abject failure at the World Cup.
The Italian appeared completely devoid of ideas as England crashed out with just one win from their four matches in South Africa, but he held onto his post despite an angry reaction from the English public and has been attempting to win back support with a cautious overhaul of his squad.
His cause was hardly helped however by a dour 0-0 draw at home to Montenegro in October that hampered England s bid to qualify for Euro 2012.
It is that result which has prompted Cape…