WHICH SEVEN WILL FABIO SENDING TO HEAVEN?

THE vintage champagne Fabio Capello ordered for the England dressing room at Wembley on Wednesday night told its own story.

The England coach is bubbly, happy and intoxicated as he looks forward to South ­Africa.

“Here’s to the World Cup,” he said as he toasted all of the players who have helped England reach the World Cup finals.

His mood both before and after the 3-0 win over Belarus was ­relaxed. He has never been more positive since he began his ­massive re-building project.

Deep down, the 63-year-old ­Italian believes England have a good chance of glory.

He says he knows 16 of his final 23-man squad – which leaves seven places up for grabs.

A whole group of players will be sweating for those seven places, ­including Tottenham striker Peter Crouch, who remains on the ­fringes despite his two goals at ­Wembley on Wednesday.

Crouch is still a long way from getting the nod and that just shows how hard Capello is to please.

And the England coach has some problems to solve. Who should go as the third goalkeeper? The second left-back? The fourth centre-half? The fourth striker?

Capello said: “There are seven players I want to look at and seven places.

“I hope those already in my mind will be fit and in form.

“For the others, they have to be in a good situation, fit and playing well.

“I will check all these seven ­players closely.

“Next April is the key for them and how they are psychologically will also be important.

“Players can be good at the start of the season and tired at the end.

“Who goes depends on a lot of things. It is impossible now to speak about the final 23.

“We had a toast together and I said thank you for your support and see you in South Africa.”

Capello had invited all 55 of the players he has used to Wembley and a ­majority showed.

They all crowded into the ­dressing room to listen to the man who has them looking over their shoulder, living in fear of the axe.

For some of them, it is going to be a long season.

The ones who didn’t make it to England’s final qualification game will be excused. Capello is not treating their absence as a snub.

“They can read about the toast,” he laughed, his eyes sparkling.

“Seriously, it is no problem for the ones who didn’t make it.

“I wanted to show them all they have a chance. I have said many times the door is always open and it will remain open for the rest of the season.

“I must wait until then to see their real situation.

“I have spoken to some of the ­injured players, such as Downing, Joe Cole, Hargreaves and Walcott, and I will be watching them.

“Listen, I know more or less the players I want but much can ­happen.

“For instance, it is going to be a really big moment for me to decide which striker is best when it comes to my final choice.”

Capello could not make it any clearer. No one will go to South ­Africa who is out of form or not 100 per cent fit.

There will be no selection based on sentiment or reputation.

England at full strength are good enough to be a success at the World Cup. Beyond the first choices, it is not so strong. But Capello added: “We have good players and there are young ones coming. Milner is new, Lennon young and there are a lot of others.

“Agbonlahor is young and can improve this season. Walcott was not involved this time but is also so young.

“I don’t view the next six months as difficult. I don’t think all the time about the 23 players I have to choose and I have never sat down and jotted names on a piece of ­paper.

“All I hope is that the big, ­important players are fit.”

He does not rule out a wild card, a surprise choice such as Theo Walcott in 2006.

What about Kieran Gibbs at ­Arsenal?

“He has to play first,” said ­Capello. It was the same answer for ­Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and ­Manchester United’s Danny ­Welbeck.

What about Jack Rodwell? The coach looked bemused at that ­question. Perhaps the 2014 World Cup would be a better target for the Everton midfielder.

It has been a hugely successful campaign for England. They won nine of their 10 group games, ­scoring more goals than any other European country. Could it have gone better, he was asked? “Yes,” he said. “If we had played 11 against 11 in Ukraine.” The man hates losing.

Next come Brazil for England, on November 14 in Qatar.

“It will be a strong test and I would like everyone there,” said ­Capello.

There will be one match after that, a friendly in March, and then Capello must name his provisional squad.

The great thing about this man is that no one knows. There are no favourites. Only two things matter to him – form and fitness.

As one of his backroom staff said at Wembley: “Every player will have to earn his place.”

The champagne the players quaffed on Wednesday night was the first time we have seen Capello drop his guard.

The tough-guy mask was briefly down as he said thank you.

It was, however, a token ­gesture. Capello knows there is only one place for real ­celebration and that is on July 11 in ­Johannesburg – at the World Cup Final.

All of England hopes Capello’s men make it there and win. But right now, it is anyone’s guess which players he would be ­toasting in the dressing room on that ­Sunday evening in South Africa.

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