UK Football

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Brazil, rather than Spain, will set the standard at next year's World Cup finals according to Fabio Capello whose England team made little impression on the five-times champions in a 1-0 defeat in Doha on Saturday.

England, who will start as one of the fancied nations in South Africa, barely mustered a shot on target during the friendly and Brazil should have won by more.

Capello can justifiably point to a depleted squad, with the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and John Terry missing, but the Italian will be concerned with the ease with which Brazil cruised to victory seemingly with plenty to spare.

"It was the first time we played against a team that was so physically strong, fast and technically good," Capello was quoted in British media on Sunday.

"Their style is very different to Spain. Spain are really good technically. They pass the ball a lot. But they are not as strong and they don't defend as well."

"When we played Spain (in a friendly) they were very good but we still created four chances to score," added Capello, who has transformed England's fortunes after they failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championships.

"(Against Brazil) I counted two -- once when James Milner crossed the ball and on another occasion when Wayne Rooney tried to shoot after a dribble. When you look at that, I don't think Brazil will be easy to beat."

England were beaten 2-0 by Spain in a friendly in February.

Striker Wayne Rooney, who endured a frustrating night as he wore the captain's armband for the first time for his country, pointed to Brazil's ability to keep the ball as the difference between the two sides.

"Brazil were the better team and they deserved to win," he told the FA's website. "It was a difficult game as they move the ball really well and you have to chase, which is hard to do for 90 minutes.

"It was disappointing because we are better than that."