England 0-0 Slovenia
England finished top of Euro 2024 Group C after drawing 0-0 with Slovenia on Tuesday night, while Denmark and Serbia also played out a goalless draw.
The UK press has been critical of Gareth Southgate, this SBOTOP writer among them and, while he made some good substitutions his team looks miles off the pace as they enter the knockout phase.
In contrast, Slovenia and their fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle as, with three points, they will escape the group for the first time in their history. Not bad for a country with a population of 2 million, smaller than Manchester!
Highlights of the game
England skipper Harry Kane has been in a war of words with TV pundit Gary Lineker over criticism of the Three Lions, and I’m sure he hoped his team’s football would do the talking. But, much like the first two games, their passing was ponderous in the opening stages with little or no incision. Slovenia came into the game with two draws and another point would almost certainly be enough to qualify for the Round of 16, and they had the first chance of the game, Benjamin Sesko heading into the arms of Jordan Pickford.
Slovenia are a tough team to beat and were well organised, in two banks of four when England were in possession, and when the Three Lions eventually broke the line and Bukayo Saka put the ball in the net, Phil Foden was offside in the build up. England had their first legitimate shot on the half hour when Kane fired straight down the throat of Jan Oblak.
Then, just like London buses, when one eventually turns up another quickly follows,
and Foden stung Oblak’s palms from a 28 yard free-kick. And, just before the break Kieran Trippier fired a brilliant ball into the danger area which evaded Conor Gallagher and Kane by a whisker.
Southgate made a change at half time and brought on Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in place of Gallagher. The change had the desired impact as England played with more impetus, and when Mainoo was clattered he won a free kick in a dangerous position. Foden whipped in a brilliant ball but Jaka Bijol saved a goal when he beat Kane to the header.
Slovenia had a dilemma with 25 minutes left; whether to sit back and play for the draw, which would probably be enough to qualify or to go for a win. Meanwhile Southgate rolled the dice again and brought on Cole Palmer in place of Saka to rapturous applause from the England fans. The Chelsea man had a sensational Premier League campaign and he immediately provided more threat as England put together a smart move which ended with Declan Rice firing wide. Then Palmer got to the bi-line and sent over a cross which begged to be attacked but Jude Bellingham was slow to react.
Palmer was being double marked and that gave Kane the space to send over another peach of a cross but without an end product.
Foden, ever willing to have a crack, sent a thundering drive into the back of a Slovenian defender and the Manchester City man cut a frustrated figure. Slovenia had made their decision, presumably on the basis that England’s attack was blunt, and they began to run the clock down, and when they did gain possession they took care of the ball.
With two minutes left Southgate took Foden off and brought Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon on, rather late to make an impact. But a 0-0 draw would be enough for England to win the group, providing Denmark didn’t score a late goal.
Gordon did get a touch, passing to Kane who fed Palmer and his shot was saved by Oblak, but it was probably England’s best move of the night.
And, by the way, Denmark didn’t score either!
Key statistics
After a lacklustre showing against Denmark, the Three Lions desperately needed to give their fans some hope but, certainly in the opening 30 minutes there were no Euro 2024 highlights to speak of. With two shots on target to Slovenia’s one it had hardly been an improvement and a few boos could be heard at the break.
England had two more shots on target in the second half but neither troubled Oblak.
What’s next?
Well Group C winners England will face at third place team from D, E or F on Sunday afternoon in Gelsenkirchen, and it could be the Netherlands. The latest Euro 2024 betting odds rate England as one of the leading group but I wouldn’t bet on them beating the Oranje on this form.
Denmark finished in second place and they will meet hosts Germany on Saturday, while Slovenia await their next date.
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