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FIFA World Cup 2010 match 37 - Group C England: James, Johnson, A.Cole, Terry, Upson, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Milner, Rooney (J.Cole 72), Defoe (Heskey 86). Slovenia: Handanovic, Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic, Koren, Kirm (Matavz 79), Radosavljevic, Ljubijankic (Dedic 62), Birsa, Novakovic. The knockout stages started early here for England as anything less than victory against Slovenia would almost certainly see them heading for home. Needing a victory everybody was surely aware that a vastly improved performance from the one given against Algeria was imperative. There is no question that the team managed to produce one although the ninety minutes remained riddled with tension as the outcome stayed in the balance throughout. There were three changes from the team that drew with Algeria and initially the newcomers were hesitant as Slovenia provided a few worrying moments. Matthew Upson was replacing the suspended Jamie Carragher and looked nervous in the opening exchanges as the left side of the England defence looked vulnerable. Ljubijankic sent Birsa running towards the England box with a subtle chest pass and, with Upson backing off, James was called upon to field a shot that was thankfully straight at him. The two attacking players brought in started slowly as well. James Milner had been brought in to replace Aaron Lennon on the right in the hope that his crossing would be of a superior quality but all England's best early moves foundered as his attempted centres hit the first man. Defoe, as is his wont, was virtually anonymous as he waited for something to feed off in or around the penalty area. Handanovic was called into action when Lampard drove in a free kick from fully thirty yards and did well to hold a ball that seemed to swerve both ways before arriving. At the other end England still did not look totally comfortable with John Terry getting a vital block on Ljubijankic's shot and James gratefully plunging on a close range flick by Cesar following a corner. England were certainly working the ball through midfield in better fashion though, with more patience and control, and when everything suddenly clicked into gear they grabbed the lead on twenty two minutes. The ball was worked over to Milner on the right yet again and this time his centre was a peach, arcing beyond his marker and away from the keeper towards the six yard box where Defoe arrived right on cue, stealing in front of his marker to contrive a powerful finish with his lower shin. Rather than sit back on this lead England took heart from it and for the next fifteen minutes looked a very good team. They attacked with purpose and fluency but retained the composure in possession which is so often lacking in their play. If there was a forward option on they took it but if there wasn't they remained content to knock the ball across midfield and wait for the opening to arrive. This measured build up brought several chances, unfortunately none of these were taken. The best of these chances saw Lampard shoot over an inviting goal after the keeper had just beaten Defoe to another excellent centre by Milner and then Gerrard had a glorious opportunity after Handanovic had parried a Defoe shot. Gerrard himself reached the rebound first and headed to Rooney who sucked in the Slovenian defence before slipping a lovely ball back inside to his captain. From fifteen yards, and with the whole country begging him to blast it, Gerrard went for precision but saw Handanovic get his hand to the effort and then plunge on the loose ball as it bobbled tantalizingly towards goal. England had lost some of their momentum by half time but the first half had been very encouraging and, of course, they held a priceless lead. Half Time: England 1 Slovenia 0 England soon had a great chance to increase their lead, in bizarre circumstances, after the break. Two Slovenian defenders contrived to slice the ball from near the halfway line back towards their own goal and the ball bounced behind for a corner with the keeper making a forlorn effort to keep it in play near the touchline. Rooney was over quickly to send the corner into the area and although Handanovic was back in his goalmouth he could only punch the ball out to Lampard whose header forward offered Defoe a great chance but his instinctive flick from six yards sent the ball agonisingly wide of the post. England were then denied by a marginal offside call as Rooney was adjudged to have gone too soon from Lampard's pass before squaring for Defoe to tap into an empty net. Handanovic was also offering encouragement at every England corner and was lucky not to totally commit himself as a right wing delivery flew over his head to the far post. Terry arrived with a thumping header but the keeper had got back to block at his near post. The keeper was absolutely nowhere when a corner then came in from the other flank but Gareth Barry could not get high enough to make him pay. The ball was then cleared but England returned it immediately and there was another great chance to score. Lampard's long ball into the box found the Slovenian defence pushing out too late and Rooney was left all alone and onside in the middle of goal. Rooney took one touch and opted for an instant shot when he had time to measure his options and Handanovic was able to get the slightest touch to his scuffed effort and turn the ball onto the post. This was a fine save but Rooney should have given him no chance. Having spurned so many chances it was inevitable that England would now endure some nervous moments and they were grateful to escape one particularly harrowing situation. Dedic headed a long ball on into the box and the England defence was immediately stretched. Terry got in a fine block to deny Novakovic but the ball ran loose to Dedic and it needed Glen Johnson to produce an even more vital interception from his shot as James dived the wrong way behind him. There was still a chance for Slovenia as the ball ran loose again to Birsa but his low shot went wide of the post and England just about survived. In the midst of this mayhem John Terry had covered himself in glory by launching himself torpedo style and head first towards Dedic's shot after making the initial block on Novakovic. Even though he didn't manage to get his head there in time the intent was obvious and this was old school defending at its very best and most insane. Capello finally brought on Joey Cole for some action with twenty minutes remaining but it was a worry to see him replacing Rooney and with the team increasingly looking to protect rather than create the forward line now looked somewhat lightweight. When Heskey came on for Defoe for the final countdown the team looked better able to tick the clock down and Cole was time waster in chief as he took the ball to the corners and kept it there. There was still one worrying moment as a Slovenian interchange on the edge of the England box seemed to have played Matavz in on goal but Upson produced a superb challenge to nick the ball off the forwards' toe and with Joey Cole spending most of the three minutes added time protecting the ball by the right hand corner flag England had got the win they needed and could start looking forward rather than backwards for the first time in this tournament. Full Time: England 1 Slovenia 0 England: James 7, Johnson 7, A.Cole 6, Terry 9, Upson 7, Gerrard 7, Lampard 7, Barry 5, Milner 7, Rooney 7 (J.Cole 6), Defoe 7. Slovenia: Handanovic 7, Brecko 5, Suler 6, Cesar 6, Jokic 6, Koren 4, Kirm 4 (Matavz 6), Radosavljevic 6, Ljubijankic 6 (Dedic 7), Birsa 7, Novakovic 7. Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany) 6 Good: Getting through to the next round. Bad: Missing so many chances. One more goal would have put us into the easier side of the draw. Ugly: John Terry's defending. Ron Atkinson will tell you defending's about doing the ugly things and when Terry launched himself head first at that shot it was the most beautiful example of ugly defending I've ever seen.
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