Fabio Capello admitted he is still getting to know the players while trying to create history with a fourth win.

Victory in the Dinamo Stadium would mean England winning the opening four qualifying matches in the FIFA competition for the first time and put them well on course to reach the 2010 finals in South Africa.

But the Italian conceded he needs more time to discover what makes the squad tick because of the stop-start nature of the international programme.

Stand-in captain Rio Ferdinand claimed he has found out little about the former Real Madrid boss since he replaced Steve McClaren 10 months ago.

Capello said: "Have I found out about the players? I think I know the players. I think the players know me enough but not completely. To know the manager and the players, you need to speak every day at training.

"When you play a lot of games, it's easier to understand everything about someone.

"We stayed 10 days together for the Andorra and Croatia games last month, and we have the same now for the matches with Kazakhstan and Belarus. I know the players' characteristics technically - but not the minds.

"We need longer. It's important to understand them and get into their minds to win matches. I understand a lot of things, but need to know more."

Capello will be without two of his most experienced defenders in the injured captain John Terry and Ashley Cole but has faith in his team to triumph against a Belarus side he compares in style with Arsenal.

He said: "I think we are a good team, a strong team. We are thinking just about victory. Always, when I speak with the players, I say to them 'We have to win' and that they have to play the same style that they play for their clubs.

"We have players with big international experience, people who have played a lot of games with their national teams and with their clubs. It's about belief and confidence.

"Belarus will be tough and we have to produce a performance similar to the one which stood us in good stead in Croatia last month.

"I compare them to Arsenal because they play short passes, not long balls, and always go forward. They have six or seven players around the box. They are very compact."

Capello insisted England's players are as disciplined as the ones he enjoyed success with in Italy and Spain in club management and he has endured few problems in stamping his mark on the squad.

Capello said: "Are Italian players more disciplined as individuals than English player? It's the same. I don't find strange things here. The discipline is okay here.

"I'm not having a problem, During the past seven months, I have seen everything and observed a lot - and there is no big difference between England and Spanish or Italian players.

"I sometimes arrive in different clubs and find good things. Others, I change. It depends on what you want. Some of my good things could be of benefit. Here, I find no problems.

"All I know is that with the national team, all the players are focused."

Middlesbrough defender David Wheater and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will join up with the team this morning after flying in following their participation in England Under-21's aggregate victory over Wales which booked their place at next year's European Championships in Sweden,