England 1-0 Slovenia
Who else of course? It was England’s best player, Harry Kane, who yet again fired the Three Lions to a win tonight, and on their way to Russia.
As football games go, this was by no means a classic. That won’t worry England coach Gareth Southgate; but on this evidence, sports betting fans won’t be rushing to back England for World Cup glory.
The hosts dominated possession in the first half, but Slovenia could have gone into the break ahead after Joe Hart brought down Josep Ilicic. English hearts were in their mouths but the referee was unmoved. England struggled to make a real opening throughout the half and failed to find any tempo, the best chances coming from dead ball opportunities. Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford did both test the Slovenia keeper Jan Oblak in a dreary first 45 minutes.
Ilicic tested Hart early in the second half but then, after England’s worst period, the hosts had a golden chance. Marcus Rashford was put clean through but, inexplicably, instead of sliding the ball home he chipped gently over the advancing Oblak to allow Nejc Mevlja all the time in the world to clear.
That seemed to give the Three Lions some impetus and moments later Raheem Sterling almost broke the deadlock but Bostjan Cesar blocked superbly.
Joe Hart was called on to make a great double save and then, finally, on 94 minutes, Kane swooped with a deft finish to grab all three points.
It says something when the second biggest cheer on the night was for a pitch invader but hey…England is through.
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