Welcome to life at base camp England where on Thursday the focus of attention was rarely diverted from their favourite subject: themselves.
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While most of the other 31 nations involved in the World Cup finals discuss their opponents in detail, study their strengths and weaknesses and give their views on the frenzy of South African excitement around them as the tournament approaches, the England camp, and media, appears marooned in self-obsession.
From Gerrard, we learned that he likes the hotel, that the food is great and that he has dreamed of lifting the World Cup for England.
But his views on the make-up of the United States team and the prospects for the tournament-opening fixture between hosts South Africa and Mexico remained unknown.
Under inquisition from British television reporters, he was not asked any specific questions about the Americans.
PREDICTABLE REPEATS
Instead, he fielded repeats of queries about Wayne Rooney's temperament, the need for good discipline and why swearing at referees is not advisable.
When asked about Friday's opener, by a Mexican reporter, he left the room without answering.
Sadly, and unlike most other counties taking part, England seem to have no intention of talking freely to the global media and breaking free of a stage-managed programme of cliché-riddled news conferences structured for a British audience.
Their training and hotel base is at the comfortable, sprawling Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, an isolated retreat on the high veldt, where an excellent media centre, in terms of facilities, has been erected.
There is high-speed internet access, a layout of good desks and chairs, comfortable sofas and a food-and-drinks service, not to mention a set of televisions always tuned to Sky News and free chocolate bars.
But access to players and staff is limited with each session monitored and managed at close quarters.
It is a tried-and-tested routine but one that left visitors from Venezuela, Norway, Spain and Mexico baffled when they attempted to discover the background of England's transformation in form and results under Capello's regime.
Instead of talking to England players, coaches or managers, the visiting reporters interviewed each other and any members of the England media corps with time to help them out.
On Thursday, the Norwegians were surprised not to see Capello talking ahead of the clash with the United States, the first time they have met at the World Cup since 1950 in Brazil, when the Americans won famously 1-0.
