Fabio Capello said farewell to his players for another year with a clear warning that their work is not yet over.

In defeating Sweden 1-0 at Wembley thanks to a Daniel Majstorovic own goal, England ended a 43-year hoodoo against the Scandinavians.

They also completed a first unbeaten calendar year since 1994.

Both achievements are worth noting, but Capello shrugged off "statistics".

He said: "What we do in the Euros will be important, not what we've done this year."

Of more concern to Capello was the continuing reliance on the long ball from the goalkeeper.

During Saturday's 1-0 victory over Spain, it was notable how little Iker Casillas and Jose Reina were put in a position where they had no option other than to boot the ball downfield.

Centre-halves Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos were totally at ease with their status within a passing team and, wherever possible, linked play with the players in front of them rather than push the ball back and wait for it to whistle past.

"We played without fear," said Capello before delivering the stinging complaint.

"But one thing I didn't like during the game was that there were too many passes to our goalkeeper.

"When our opponents pressed our defenders, the defenders need to try something different. Not always to the goalkeeper, which always produces a long ball.

"I understand it's difficult to find a solution sometimes but in the next games I'd like to see us improve our movement."

Capello's words should be heeded.

If Spain had won at Wembley the critics might have been lamenting glaring shortfalls ahead of another major championship.

That is not to underplay the significance of a largely excellent double-header.

But if England meet Spain again next summer - it could be in a group with Portugal and France after UEFA announced the seedings - the margin for error will be minimal.

Hosts Poland, 2008 winners Greece and the Czech Republic would offer a far less arduous path to the last eight.

And Sweden and the Republic of Ireland would bring tactics more natural to Premier League players.

But Capello will not be planning for an easy route to glory, which is why the past four days have been so productive personnel wise.

Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Scott Parker, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Jack Rodwell and Kyle Walker gained the greatest credit.

None of them were part of the World Cup shambles.

Indeed, 12 months ago, not a single one would be thought of as having the potential to be part of an England starting line-up for a game of true significance.

That is not the case now, helping to swell Capello's options way beyond the 23 players he must pick for duty next summer.

Walker in particular justified Capello's surprising decision to omit Micah Richards, the most in-form right-back around at present.

"Technically he is very good," said Capello.

"He is really fast and always plays with confidence.

"He takes a risk and he needs to understand when you play against the really important countries for the seniors, you need to be careful sometimes. But he will improve."

Now Capello must wait. First for the draw in Kiev on December 2, then almost another three months before he gets his players together again for a friendly on February 29.

If England do not find themselves in the same group as Holland, Bert van Marwijk's team will be the Wembley opponents.

Two years ago, Capello felt reasonably satisfied about England's form seven months out from the World Cup.

When he saw his players again the following March, he was aghast at how worn out they were.

There is no reason to believe the club campaign has got any less demanding.

The big difference this time is England may have enough players to cope.