PLATINUM STARS 0 ENGLAND 3 ENGLAND limped to an unconvincing victory in their practice match against local South African league Replica watches side Platinum Stars.
Jermain Defoe gave England an interval lead before Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney extended it after the break.
But Capello can only hope the standard of opposition failed to bring the best out of his team because if that is not the case, England's stay in South Africa could be brief.
Having previously declared his intended starting line-up for Saturday's Group C opener against the United States would all get 45 minutes, the guessing game began as to whether - with the notable exception of Wayne Rooney - Capello had begun with it here.
It would indicate a willingness to hand Joe Hart the first international start of his career, and also that Ledley King is set to partner John Terry.
Hart forgot himself at one point and reacted Replica watches badly when he was admonished by his manager for the time he took over a clearance.
If that had been the sum total of England's problems, it would not have been too bad.
But Ashley Cole was given a torrid time by Joseph Molongoane, Glen Johnson was panicked into giving away a clumsy penalty and Peter Crouch headed a decent chance woefully wide.
As skipper Steven Gerrard was paired in central midfield with Frank Lampard, there was a disappointing lack of impetus and Shaun Wright-Phillips failed to make any impression after an impressive second-minute contribution.
The one player who did look lively was Joe Cole.
It had all started so well for England too as Wright-Phillips zipped a pass through the Platinum Stars defence that allowed Gerrard to provide Defoe with a tap-in.
The introduction of Rooney - and nine others - did not exactly change the course of the game. But it did allow England to gain a measure of control, which the Manchester United man emphasised by setting up Cole just after the Replica watches hour.
He was also booked before before tapping home the third goal late on.
