England vs Slovenia: Five things we learned from the Three Lions' 1-0 win at Wembley
Harry Kane struck late on to book England's place at next summer's World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.England booked their place at next summer's World Cup after edging past Slovenia in a dreary and deeply unsatisfying 1-0 win at Wembley on Thursday night.
Gareth Southgate's side had looked on course for a 0-0 draw but a late Harry Kane goal, that crept past Jan Oblak following a Kyle Walker delivery, denied the visitors a point.
Until then, England's best chance had came via Marcus Rashford early in the second half, his lobbed effort being cleared by Bostjan Cesar.
Here are five things we learned:
Same old, same old
After the TfL announced that Thursday’s tube strike had been called off, a Wembley crowd of 60,000 or so people were expected to turn out for this evening’s clash. With large sections of the stadium empty and sparsely filled, such an estimation was only just met as thousands of fans shunned the chance to watch Southgate’s side in action.
And can you blame them? This was a typically underwhelming England display, characterised by stodgy, dreary football that gave the home crowd little to cheer about. Passes went astray, possession was conceded all too easily and the pop, snap and crackle which marks the game’s best international sides was depressingly absent. It took all of 25 minutes for the crowd to realise they’d been conned into yet another English classic, titled: “How to lose support and alienate fans.” England may have eventually found their goal in the closing stages of the game but this was an all-too familiar story that certainly doesn't bode well for next summer.
England lack full-time leader
After confirming ahead of tonight’s game that Kane would lead England out against Slovenia, Southgate made it clear that he not yet decided who would be the national side’s permanent captain. Like his players on the pitch, the manager is giving off the perception of indecision.
The failure to pick his captain leaves England without a central figure around which the side can constantly turn to in times of adversity. But while the buck eventually stops with Southgate, his team is certainly making matters hard for him. Not one of his players showcased any genuine leadership tonight. Even Kane's contributions must be scrutinised, despite his late goal. Football’s best teams have been driven by strong personalities capable of grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck and raising the quality on offer - but this was far from the case here at Wembley. Southgate needs to pick his captain but it’s time for one of England’s players to give him a good reason for doing so.
Oxlade-Chamberlain fails to seize his big moment
Life for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t been too sweet lately. After a £35m summer move to Liverpool that was intended to revive his career, the Englishman has been restricted to five substitute appearances and one solitary start in the EFL Cup defeat to Leicester. At only 24, Oxlade-Chamberlain has plenty of years left in his career. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t stop him from making the most of opportunities like tonight.
Lining up alongside Kane, Rashford and Raheem Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain found himself in esteemed company with a major point to prove - for both club and country. Did he succeed in doing so? Not at all.
The 24-year-old started brightly, showcasing some genuine speed to get the better of his opposite man before delivering a probing cross that was easily dealt with. He looked similarly determined when backtracking, too, stopping Bojan Jokic from putting in a dangerous ball after 11 minutes with a strong block. Ultimately, though, the youngster lacked the cutting edge to really set the game alight. Whereas his attacking counterparts flashed with genuine verve and panache at times, Oxlade-Chamberlain was distinctively disappointing. Out of England’s front four, he was the weakest link and failed to make the most of his big moment today.
England youngsters the way forward
It’s not all gloom and doom, though. England’s best passages of play - those rare moments when the home side brought Wembley to life - came via the youngest players on the pitch. For their respective clubs Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Kane - a trio that has collectively scored 25 goals in all competitions so far this season - have been sublime.
They may have struggled tonight to energise England but the hosts looked at their best when they were on the ball. Despite his youth, Rashford put in one of the more assured performances of the evening. His movement and speed were genuinely threatening at times, his touch on point.
Elsewhere, Sterling’s short, quick-fire balls helped bring some urgency to England in Slovenia’s final third. Indeed, it was the Manchester City forward who set Rashford up for England's closest chance before Kane's late strike, winning possession in the heart of the pitch before releasing his teammate through on goal. The end product was missing but it was a testament to what these individuals are capable of. And of course, it was that man Kane who eventually found the breakthrough in the dying minutes.
Alongside Dele Alli, this group represents the future but the only way England can expect to genuinely challenge at next summer’s World Cup is if this foursome continues to raise their game - and are joined by their older teammates in the process.
Slovenia make a good go of it
Like the Wembley crowd, Slovenia were very much observers to tonight’s game, looking in as England did their best job of fumbling their way through 90 minutes of football.
Slovenia did their first job in simply turning up and putting bodies behind the ball, for which they deserve full marks. For most of the match they held their shape and structure to frustrate the hosts, while Jan Oblak, one of the world’s best goalkeepers’ did the rest in between the sticks. England were twice denied by his efforts, a Jordan Henderson effort notably being pushed wide of the left-hand side post thanks to his finger-tip save.
The visitors even had the chance to pull ahead in the 19th minute. Josip Illicic scooped up the ball outside of England’s box, floating the delivery in between Gary Cahill and John Stones to the waiting Roman Bezjak. Had he made connection, it would have surely been 1-0. It took some late heroics from Joe Hart in the final 10 minutes to similarly spare England's blushes, spreading himself well to deny Tim Matavz who had broken free on goal. In the end Slovenia were denied the result but they made a good go of it for sure.
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