FIFA World Cup 2010 : England vs Slovenia – Full time report
England went into the match knowing that they had to win to qualify for the knock out stages. Defoe and Milner were brought in to replace Heskey and Lennon. Slovenia progress with a win or a draw. They also progress if they lose to England and USA draw with Algeria. The Slovenian defender Nejc Pecnik was recalled after recovering from some bruised ribs.
The match got under way with both sides looking to attack. Rooney had the first real chance of the match on the 18th minute but his shot was saved expertly, the resulting corner was defended poorly and the ball almost snuck in.
Johnson was looking like his lively self and controlling the right side of the field. Slovenia were on the break on the nineteenth minute but John Terry showed some heroic defending and put the ball behind for a corner. Rooney was playing much deeper then usual trying to pick up the occasional loose ball. Milner whipped in a magical cross from the right wing, which was met by the flying boot of Defoe, who crept into the box and snuck that ball in to give England the lead. Replays suggest that the Slovenian keeper Handanovic could have done better there. England got into a much better stride after the goal and were stroking the ball all over the place trying to keep maximum possession. On the twenty sixth minute the ball fell kindly to Lampards feet and he should have buried his shot but it sailed over the empty net. England finally started to look like the team the fan’s travelled to see. Johnson sent a driven cross from his weaker left foot from the right wing, onto the feet of captain Steven Gerrard but his poor control let the opportunity go to waste. Defoe was in the heart of things again on the thirtieth minute mark, laying the ball off to Rooney who passed it to the rushing Gerrard and his first time shot was kept out by Handanovic, but just barely. England were looking sharper than they did in their previous outings, with the players rushing onto the loose balls and stringing together pass after pass. Upson who came in to replace Carragher was looking sharp and was putting in tackles left and right. Jokic went into the book for bringing down Johsnon and saw the first yellow of the game. He will be out of the next round if Slovenia are to make it through. Birsa’s long range free kick drew James out to make a fine save. That was the first time he was tested in the entire half, unfortunately the follow up could not have been put in by the Slovenians since the offside flag was already up. After that the game quieted down, with the ball flying back and forth between both the keepers. Soon after the half time whistle blew with the English one nil up.
Both teams came onto the pitch to get the second half on its way. England were feeling more optimistic knowing that they had not lost a final group game since 1950. England were playing exactly the way they were passing the ball around. The English had the ball into the net on the forty eighth minute but Rooney and Defoe were both offside. Slovenia finally made it into England’s half but Upson and Terry both committed fouls on the Slovenians. The resulting free kick was driven straight at James who caught it with ease. James was looking rather sharp on the pitch, marshalling the defense and making the occasional saves that he was required to. A wonderful opportunity fell England’s way after Gerrard stole the ball off Brecko and combined with Rooney, but Rooney hit an air shot and missed the ball completelty and the opportunity went begging. Barry curled in a beautiful corner which was met by Terry’s head but he sent the free header straight at the keeper. Frank Lampard sent a wonderful through pass to the onrushing Wayne Rooney, but to the Slovenians delight his shot came back off the post. Slovenia were looking to break on the counter but a poor pass gave possession back to England. Gerrard sent a freekick straight to Rooney’s head on the sixty second minute but the ball was deflected out by the Slovenian defense. The second half apart from the disallowed goal was comparatively much quieter. The Slovenians had their first real opportunity in front of the goal but a super John Terry dove in front of the first shot and Johnson did brilliantly to keep the follow up shot from the Slovenian forward out. Wayne Rooney was making up for his misses infront of the goal by winning the ball back, on every opportunity he could. On the seventy first minute Wayne Rooney was substituted and Joe Cole made his first appearance of the World Cup. Soon after the Slovenians made a change and brought on Tim Matavz to replace Andraz Kirm The match had pretty much died down, since that substitution, with neither side looking to create any real chance. On the eighty sixth minute Defoe made way and Heskey was brought on. Milner and Cole both combined down the right corner flank in order to run the clock down. The Slovenians got the ball off them eventually but to no avail since the referee blew for the final whistle and it was all over. England are through to the next round of sixteen to the delight.
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