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A pair of draws in their two previous Group C games put England in a very awkward position as they lined up to play Slovenia today. England had to win to guarantee passage to the Round of 16.
Statistically another draw could have taken them through, but that would have meant making up a three goal differential against the USA. Possible? Sure. Likely? No chance.
It was win or go home for England, and in an effort to shake up his squad manager Fabio Capello made some personnel changes that proved to be the difference in the game!
Out with the old, in with the new
In the two previous matches against USA and Algeria the boss had gone with the strike partnership of Rooney and Heskey. That combination failed to produce, however.
In their 1-1 tie with the USA, England’s goal was the handiwork of Steven Gerrard. And in their appalling performance against Algeria, England failed to score at all, the game finishing 0-0.
For today’s match Capello selected the strike partnership of Rooney and Defoe. The latter had subbed in for a spell against the Algerians and had at least provided some spark for the misfiring English.
Meanwhile in midfield Aaron Lennon was benched and in his place James Milner once again played.
But these were changes of choice for Capello. In defense the Italian’s hand was forced due to a Ledley King injury a Jamie Carragher suspension. He put West Ham’s Mathew Upson in to partner erstwhile mutineer John Terry in the back line.
For their part group leaders Slovenia were largely unchanged from the squad that held the USA to a 2-2 draw.
The pressure on the England squad was obvious as they lined up against their opponents: stern faces all around.
1st Half
On the field the tension manifested almost immediately as Glenn Johnson was warned by referee Wolfgang Stark following two lunging fouls within the first five minutes. The German referee kept his card in his pocket, however, wisely allowing the players to settle in and develop a flow to the game.
Despite the pressure that weighed upon them so heavily, this was an England team who came to play football.
The obligatory feeling-out period so typical of important clashes lasted little more than 10 minutes and then England started to press Slovenia, with Rooney looking more like himself and forcing a corner.
Yet Slovenia showed they had a sting in their tale. Only a last ditch tackle by John Terry in the 20th minute kept the Slovenians from breaching David James’s goal.
But three minutes later England got their breakthrough. A James Milner cross from the right found
Defoe who guided the ball through Slovenian keeper with power from three yards out. 1-0 to England.
The same combination nearly struck again what could have been mistaken for a replay of the earlier cross from Milner. It was not to be, however. England kept pushing, though, with Glenn Johnson getting forward and crossing from the right too.
The English nearly extended their lead in the 30th minute when an effort by Defoe rebounded to Gerrard. The England captain shot on target with good power. The Slovenian ‘keeper was unable to hold it but was fortunate to haul in the loose ball before Gerrard pounced.
Slovenia again showed enterprise. David James was called on in the 42nd minute to avert disaster when a Slovenia free kick from distance took a deflection, causing the England keeper to make an uncomfortable airborne clearance.
The half ended with England up by one and clearly the better side.
2nd Half
Wayne Rooney nearly earned his team another goal almost immediately. Forcing a corner, he took it quickly. The ‘keeper punched the ball and it found Gerrard outside the box. A quick lob to Defoe and the Tottenham man flicked it just wide of the post.
England were clearly in control in the second half and had numerous scoring chances: A John Terry header in the 57th minute, a shot off the post by Rooney in the 58th, a Rooney header off a Slovenia defender in the 63rd.
Joe Cole was brought in for Rooney in the 72 minute and in the 85th Heskey came on for Defoe. But there was no more scoring for England, although the game did end with some nervy moments as the Slovenians continued to strive for the goal they felt they’d need to go safely through to the next round.
That goal never came, though, and thanks to late heroics by the USA against Algeria the Slovenians are going home while USA goes through as winners of Group C with England as runners-up.
England still misfiring
England played well today, but they did not play great. They missed too many chances that would have taken all the pressure off and would have shown them to be a team with a chance to make an impact in this competition. Instead they did enough to get by.
If their nervy performance was due to the pressure of expectations, perhaps now that they’re through the group stage they can concentrate on playing more quality football and focus on their finishing. If they don’t they’ll be saying farewell to South Africa long before July 11.
