England Beat Slovenia no boos for Wayne Rooney and england squad
England is still breathing at the greatest sporting spectacle of the year, the Football World Cup, as they sneak through to the second round of the tournament with a 1-0 win over fellow Europeans Slovenia.
The entire country was on a virtual standstill, as fans from all over the country camped in at the screenings in major cities to support their national team in their battle for survival.
England, who won the World Cup in 1966 when it was staged on their home soil, proved that they have the ability to galvanise their effort and up the level of intensity when at the brink of elimination in the tournament.
The match was enjoyed by their fans, many of whom skipped work to watch the enthralling battle being staged in South Africa.
Nervous fans, draped in England flags, converged at London's Sports Café and succeeded in hiding their fears of a loss, and a potential humiliating exit from the tournament, by singing songs and yelling at the top of their lungs.
There were scenes of uninhibited celebrations as striker Jermain Defoe scored the winner in the first half that breathed new life in England’s lacklustre World Cup campaign.
The fans were on the edge of their seats throughout the 90 minute encounter, and embraced each other when the match ended, ensuring their team’s progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.
Despite the win, some fans felt that their team could have performed a lot better, especially in the second half, when they could have added to their solitary goal.
Many others felt that the team still has a long way to go before they can stake a claim in the most watched sporting event in the world that has gripped the entire planet, even in countries not taking part in the tournament.
On the other hand, the Slovenians were heartbroken at the end of the match; they were in with a chance of qualification into the second round until the United States ended their hopes by scoring a goal in added time to beat Algeria 1-0 in a stunning encounter.
The results of the last two matches in group C meant that Algeria and Slovenia are now set to pack their bags and return to their respective countries.
Meanwhile, the English fans present at the venue of the match, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, were ecstatic with their team’s win, and came out to party outside the venue once the final whistle was blown.
A group of fans was singing and dancing in joy, and praying at the same time that their team overcomes their opponent in the second round, and gives a serious shot to the trophy.
"It was a great game great atmosphere, we played in great spirit and we won by one," said a passionate fan, who was still soaking up the atmosphere in the stadium. Another fan added, "Sleeping giants England, they will wake up and will win the World Cup.”
On the other hand, dejection was written large on the faces of the Slovenian fans, who felt that their team did not deserve to be eliminated at the first stage of the tournament.
"England was better, simply that, they scored and we didn't put goals and we lost," said one Slovenian fan, a thought shared by many others after the match.
England, who was rated as one of the favourites for the tournament, finished level on five points with Unites States, yet had to be content with the second spot due to their inferior goal difference.
The Slovenians accumulated four points, while the North African team Algeria garnered a single point.
Tags: