Some of today’s newspapers quote Capello directly comparing Beckham to Ronaldo, others say that he made the comparison indirectly. Some, including The Independent, attempted to give a fairer picture of what he said in response to two related questions about how Wayne Rooney would function as a lone striker.

Fundamentally it was put to Capello that Rooney would not be able to operate the same way as he does for Manchester United without the likes of Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez around him. Capello responded by saying that England still had good players around Rooney, like Beckham. He never once mentioned Ronaldo by name.

You can read the exact terms of the conversation below. I’ve just transcribed it again, this time word-for-word, from my digital recorder which I was holding about ten inches from Capello’s face when he gave a private briefing for the chief football writers of the English national newspapers on Wednesday night after the game against France.

Question from The Independent: “What did you think of Wayne Rooney playing on his own?”

Capello answers in Italian.

Translator “Erm, he played, the way he plays he is currently playing for Manchester United. I played them tonight … I played him and Steven Gerrard the way they are currently being played in their own clubs.”

Capello adds more in Italian.

Translator: “That’s what I wanted ... to see them playing in the same position tonight.”

Question from The Times: “You don’t have a player like Ronaldo to play with Rooney and you don’t have a player like Torres to play with Gerrard, do you?

Translator translates question.

Capello responds in Italian, he mentions only Beckham, Rooney and Torres by name.

Translator: “I have a David Beckham” – Capello briefly interrupts, then translator continues - “and Rooney can be the Torres. And I believe they are both good players.”

Clear now? According to the Gazzetta Dello Sport’s London correspondent – who has exacting standards – this particular translator was good so I think we can be sure that the translation was on the money. Best advice for Capello? Learn English fast.

(Picture: Getty Images)