2010 World Cup: Slovenia v England full time report
Slovenia 0 England 1
England have qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup after a nervy win over Slovenia.
Jermain Defoe volleyed home the only goal of the game midway through the first half following a cross from James Milner.
But England couldn’t build on the lead despite further chances for Defoe, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, who hit the post.
Some excellent last ditch defending from John Terry, Glen Johnson and Matthew Upson helped the Three Lions hold onto the lead despite numerous nervous moments in the second half.
England are through, but Landon Donovan’s last minute winner for the USA against Algeria means that they finish second in the group, and will faces the winners of Group D.
Fabio Capello’s men kept the ball well in the early stages, but it was Slovenia who tested the opposition goalkeeper first, but Valter Birsa’s left footed effort was comfortably dealt with by David James, before a terrific Johnson pass set up an England counter attack, which ended when Rooney’s cross just evaded an onrushing Gerrard.
Frank Lampard’s long range free kick was comfortably saved by Samir Handanovič, before Terry headed a Gareth Barry corner narrowly wide, and Johnson’s long range effort was comfortably saved.
At the other end, Terry was forced into an excellent last ditch block after an Ashley Cole error, before England struck.
Milner’s excellent cross from the right was met on the volley by Defoe, who smashed the ball through the hands of Handanovič from six yards out.
It wasn’t long before the goalkeeper was again troubled by a Milner cross, with the rebound falling to Lampard, who could only fire over from the edge of the area.
England were buzzing, and Defoe fired another effort on goal that Handanovič saved, before excellent interplay between Rooney and Gerrard resulted in the England captain seeing a right footed effort superbly saved by Handanovič, who plunged to his left to keep out the shot, which then spun away from the goalkeeper before he recovered to cling onto the ball.
A chaotic start to the second half saw Handanovič fail to prevent a corner, which led to Rooney taking the kick quickly and Defoe flicking an effort agonisingly wide when it appeared easier to score, before Defoe had the ball in the net, only for it to be rightly ruled out as Rooney was offside.
Handanovič then saved Terry’s forceful header from Barry’s corner, before producing a superb stop to tip a Rooney shot onto the post when the striker was clean through after being found by Lampard.
Slovenia were offering little at the other end, but a Barry mistake led to a chance for Birsa, which he hit straight at James, before a remarkable scramble in the penalty area required excellent blocks from both Terry and Johnson to deny Slovenian substitute Zlatko Dedič.
Joe Cole replaced Rooney with 20 minutes remaining, but England had started to look nervy, and misplaced passes prevented them creating more chances, while Upson’s last ditch tackle prevented another Slovenia attack.
They held on though, just.
Fabio Capello: http://www.senore.com/Fabio-Capello-Ive-re-found-the-team-I-know-a13508
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