Fabio Capello blamed the rigours of a long English season for his side's failure to beat Switzerland.
England manager feels fatigue was a factor in Switzerland draw
Fabio Capello blamed the rigours of a long English season for his side's failure to beat Switzerland at Wembley.
England came from two goals down to draw their Euro 2012 qualifier 2-2 thanks to a Frank Lampard penalty and a fine strike from substitute Ashley Young.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart had earlier let in two Tranquillo Barnetta free-kicks, while Switzerland also appeared livelier in the closing stages as both sides searched for a winner.
Capello, who claimed he had not underestimated Switzerland, said: "Some players arrived at the last 10 minutes without energy. In modern football if you can't press it is difficult.
"For this reason I was happy for the reaction and for the chances that we created but the last 10 minutes I was worried. I saw the Swiss team doing really, really well.
"I respect all the players. I am focused every time on the game. I know some Swiss players are playing in really important teams. Six players playing in Italy, some coming from Germany and here in England.
"The quality of these players is good. They played today with more energy than us."
Capello admitted he was annoyed with the two Switzerland goals, the first a whipped cross from 30 yards which went straight in past Hart and the second a shot which went through the two-man wall of Theo Walcott and James Milner and was helped into the net by Hart's leg at the near post.
"I was disappointed for the second goal because the wall needed to stay tight and not move," said Capello.
Tactical change
The England manager substituted Lampard at half-time, bringing on Young to inject some pace and vitality.
Capello explained: "I changed because I needed to change something. I needed one player to attack the space and one player faster.
"The first half we played a lot of short passes and did not go through to the goal. It was a tactical decision, absolutely."
Capello also lamented a string of missed chances from Darren Bent, who saw one shot smothered by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio when clean through and another blaze over the crossbar with the goalmouth gaping. Young and Stewart Downing also missed clear-cut opportunities.
Capello said: "After 2-2 we got four chances to score the third goal. We missed those chances but I can see that in the last 10 minutes some players were without energy. It was a difficult moment to play a game of such importance.
"Bent always has the chances but this time he missed the chances. It is incredible because we missed four chances that were really clear."
Hitzfeld reaction
Meanwhile, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was delighted with the point.
Hitzfeld said: "If I had been offered a 2-2 draw before the match I would have signed for that.
"We started well. Unfortunately, we didn't succeed in keeping our 2-0 lead to half-time.
"England scored too early after our second goal but all in all I am quite happy with the draw. It is an important point and we can go on with confidence into our next game.
"We were nicely developed in the midfield and to make a draw in the home country of football is very good, but we don't want to overestimate it.
"The team did everything they could and it is proof of the quality of the England team that they came back."
