Match ends, England 1, Slovenia 0.
England 1-0 Slovenia
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
- From the section Football
Harry Kane's injury-time winner secured England's qualification for next summer's World Cup with victory against Slovenia - but this was a display designed to dampen any sense of expectation.
Kane, England captain for the night, bundled in Kyle Walker's cross for his 11th goal in 22 international appearances to finally break down Slovenia's resistance as they looked likely to hold out for a point.
It meant manager Gareth Southgate can now start planning in earnest for Russia but could not cover up the cracks in an England performance that was lifeless, uninspired and mediocre.
Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling almost broke the deadlock before Kane made his breakthrough, the hosts were also grateful to much-criticised keeper Joe Hart for some crucial interventions.
England and Southgate have achieved their goal. It was not, however, achieved in a manner that will start alarm bells ringing for any future World Cup opposition.
Elsewhere in the group, Scotland kept their qualifying hopes alive in dramatic fashion as a late Martin Skrtel own goal gave them victory over 10-man Slovakia at Hampden Park.
- What are Southgate's big challenges?
- Relive all the action and reaction from Wembley and Hampden Park, plus Northern Ireland's defeat by Germany
- Scotland earn dramatic win to keep hopes alive
England through but no celebrations
England's qualification for Russia was confirmed by that late strike from Kane but Wembley was hardly awash with joyous scenes at the final whistle.
And that was because, for the large part, this was a desperately poor England performance as they struggled to find a way through a well-drilled Slovenia.
England's poor performance drew mockery and sarcasm from some sections of a dissatisfied Wembley crowd, clearly unimpressed by what they were witnessing.
Southgate said he was aware of the crowd's discontent and the unhappy mood of England's supporters meant there was an absence of the air of celebration that normally accompanies World Cup qualification.
The scale of the excitement - or lack of it - on offer was illustrated by the fact many England's fans spent most of the second half amusing themselves by hurling paper aeroplanes at each other.
It was also an atmosphere tempered by the reality of England's current standing apart from the elite of the international game.
England carry a forward threat in the shape of Kane and Rashford, who will be supplemented by Dele Alli when he is free from suspension, but the glaring lack of creativity elsewhere - especially in central midfield - must represent a real concern for Southgate.
Southgate has achieved phase one of the task presented to him when he succeeded Sam Allardyce, but on this evidence England will not travel to Russia accompanied by any serious weight of expectation.
- We're not going to be Spain in eight months - Southgate
- A 'priceless' striker but who is 'running out of chances'? England player ratings
- World Cup - who needs what to qualify?
Southgate's England strictly B-list
England, as usual, have come through qualifying in relative comfort - but they have made very heavy weather of completing the job at some stages of this campaign.
The 4-0 victory margin in Malta was hugely flattering - helped by three goals in the closing minutes against exhausted opponents - and England came from behind to beat Slovakia at Wembley.
And this was a dreadful, lifeless slog that confirmed England's strictly 'B-list' status in international football's pecking order.
The team must make a huge leap from the workmanlike and largely uninspired efforts of this campaign if they are to make even a single bead of sweat break out on the brows of any potential opponents in Russia.
And those countries who travel with serious hope of winning the World Cup will certainly have no fears should they be confronted by this England side.
- Football Daily podcast: 'One of the worst England performances I've ever seen'
- In Short: 'England a million miles away from winning World Cup
- Listen: 'FA chief shouldn't comment on England's performance'
- Thursday's Wembley highlight? England fan scores goal with paper plane
How many more chances for Oxlade-Chamberlain?
Southgate's selection of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Alli's absence was a real show of faith in Liverpool's £35m signing from Arsenal - and totally at odds with his poor form this season.
Sadly for Oxlade-Chamberlain, he was unable to repay England's manager and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Jesse Lingard after 64 minutes.
There was no shortage of effort from the 24-year-old but he looked a player short on confidence and self-belief, still battling to come anywhere near fulfilling the promise he showed after he burst on the England scene as a teenager.
Southgate clearly has great belief in the midfielder, also starting him in the recent qualifiers in Malta and at home to Slovakia - but his struggles have been reflected in his failure to complete both of those games, as well as this meeting with Slovenia.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is now reaching a pivotal stage of his career where he has to start delivering for club and country. He showed no signs of making that transition at Wembley on Thursday.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Man of the match - Harry Kane (England)
'We are not going to become Spain' - what they said
England manager Gareth Southgate, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "As a young team and having to deal with the expectation and criticism of their performances, it is tough for them.
"They are giving everything they've got. They don't have Champions League winning medals between them. We have to give them the belief and the backing to help them achieve.
"It's not a relief, I always thought we'd achieve the objective [of qualifying]. Tonight highlighted where we are. We are not going to become Spain in the next eight months."
Former England and Manchester United defender Phil Neville, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "England limped to qualification for the World Cup. The real work begins now.
"We will learn more when England play Germany and Brazil in friendlies in November than these types of game. There was not enough end product from players."
My England starting XI
Choose who you would pick in the England starting XI in Russia - and then share it with your friends using our team selector.
Line-ups
England
- 1Hart
- 2Walker
- 6StonesBooked at 44mins
- 5Cahill
- 3Bertrand
- 8Henderson
- 4Dier
- 11Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forLingardat 64'minutes
- 7SterlingSubstituted forKeaneat 85'minutes
- 10Rashford
- 9Kane
Substitutes
- 12Smalling
- 13Butland
- 14Trippier
- 15Maguire
- 16Keane
- 17Cresswell
- 18Defoe
- 19Livermore
- 20Sturridge
- 21Winks
- 22Lingard
- 23Pickford
Slovenia
- 1Oblak
- 23StrunaBooked at 86mins
- 17MevljaBooked at 45mins
- 5Cesar
- 13Jokic
- 14BezjakSubstituted forRepasat 72'minutes
- 6KrhinBooked at 38mins
- 18RotmanBooked at 51minsSubstituted forMatavzat 79'minutes
- 21Verbic
- 7Ilicic
- 11SporarSubstituted forBirsaat 55'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 2Skubic
- 3Viler
- 4Sirok
- 8Kurtic
- 9Matavz
- 10Birsa
- 12Belec
- 15Mlinar Delamea
- 16Koprivec
- 19Repas
- 20Bohar
- 22Vetrih
- Referee:
- Felix Zwayer
- Attendance:
- 61,598
Match Stats
Home TeamEnglandAway TeamSlovenia
- Possession
- Home67%
- Away33%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away17
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, England 1, Slovenia 0.
Foul by Jesse Lingard (England).
Rene Krhin (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Valter Birsa (Slovenia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jordan Henderson (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Valter Birsa (Slovenia).
Attempt blocked. Tim Matavz (Slovenia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josip Ilicic.
Goal!
Goal! England 1, Slovenia 0. Harry Kane (England) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Walker with a cross.
Attempt saved. Kyle Walker (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Ryan Bertrand (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tim Matavz (Slovenia).
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (England) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Hart.
Offside, Slovenia. Josip Ilicic tries a through ball, but Tim Matavz is caught offside.
Foul by Gary Cahill (England).
Josip Ilicic (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (England).
Attempt missed. Benjamin Verbic (Slovenia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Valter Birsa.
Booking
Aljaz Struna (Slovenia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jesse Lingard (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Aljaz Struna (Slovenia).
Substitution
Substitution, England. Michael Keane replaces Raheem Sterling.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Joe Hart (England) because of an injury.
Joe Hart (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tim Matavz (Slovenia).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Joe Hart (England) because of an injury.
Foul by Gary Cahill (England).
Josip Ilicic (Slovenia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, England. Gary Cahill tries a through ball, but Jesse Lingard is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Slovenia. Tim Matavz replaces Rajko Rotman.
Offside, Slovenia. Bojan Jokic tries a through ball, but Benjamin Verbic is caught offside.
Foul by John Stones (England).
Bostjan Cesar (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, England. Conceded by Miha Mevlja.
Substitution
Substitution, Slovenia. Jan Repas replaces Roman Bezjak.
Marcus Rashford (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
