So much for the softly-softly approach favoured by his predecessor, who spent the build-up to his first game in charge consulting publicist Max Clifford and having his teeth whitened. "Boss," replied Fabio Capello, when asked how he liked to be addressed. "The most important thing is we respect each other and our respective roles," he added.

Like all well-run boot camps, you need a stickler for discipline in charge and, in Capello, England have their martinet. Steve McClaren used the honeymoon period to try to get his detractors on side. The Italian yesterday got straight to the nitty-gritty. David Beckham was a taboo subject. The make-up of his first team will remain a secret.

Overnight, Team England have undergone something of a transformation. Under the auspices of one of the world's most demanding and meticulous coaches, the Butlins mentality, complete with Wags, iPods and flip-flops, has been replaced by a vastly more professional approach. The sun shone in Hertfordshire yesterday, but no player strayed on to the golf course. It was forbidden.

"On Thursday, they can play all the golf they want," observed Capello, when eyebrows were raised by the axing of such a traditional pastime. "I believe three days is not a long time to stay in the hotel, to get together and create a group mentality," he explained.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past, when such a curfew would have prompted the inevitable break-out. Only, mutiny is the last thing on the minds of England's Euro 2008 flops. This week, Capello's many rules and regulations have been seen for what they are: a serious attempt by an eminently capable individual to turn around England's sorry fortunes.

"We are professionals and we have an obligation to the fans," declared Capello, ahead of this evening's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley. "We need to work and we need rules in order to work in an orderly fashion. We need rules to create a specific winning mentality."

Capello arrived at England's north London headquarters well prepared. He has spent the weeks since his appointment analysing performances of players at club and international level. But if the England videos have made uncomfortable viewing, Capello has been encouraged by individual displays in the Premiership.

Given movement on the pitch is something he is keen to address, Capello believes some of the players will have no problem adapting to his instructions because they are already familiar with the approach. "I have seen some English clubs move on the pitch like I want my England team to move. For some, it won't be new. But they need to be compact."

Capello refused to name and honour the clubs. Just as he had no intention of revealing his starting XI for this evening's match. It is all part of the Capello approach. Not until the players are preparing to board the coach will he name the side. Keeping the squad on tenterhooks is crucial to his plans.

England have experienced false dawns in the past but already this feels different. Yesterday was not the time to discuss absentees, said Capello when Beckham's name was broached. Nor was it appropriate to look back, at a succession of England failures. Some may think he has inherited a wreckage. Capello is not one of them.

With the help of an interpreter, Capello said: "I believe we need to forget about what happened in the past. We need to leave the past behind. We must look ahead, learn by our mistakes. We have only just started our work. Give us time to get the results."

Time is not something England coaches tend to be blessed with - ask McClaren. However, with Capello presiding over group breakfasts and confiscating mobile phones, exceptions could be made.