Match Summary

England Team

Slovenia Team

England's warm up friendly before the much more important clash with Croatia in four days time proved to be a useful exercise and gave them their fifth Wembley win in a row.  It was a mixed performance with some good possession and chances created, but always with the nagging errors that might be punished by a stronger side.  Having said that Slovenia were a well-organised team that worked hard and provided a good test.

Fabio Capello brought in Robert Green, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Matthew Upson as his three changes to the side that drew in Holland.  He resisted the clamour to start with Jermain Defoe and instead continued with the Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey partnership.  But the first chance of the match went to the visitors as Robert Koren sent a terrific pass through for Milivoje Novaković to get behind the England defence.  Green came out and managed to get the slightest touch as he dived at the Slovenian's feet.  Novaković evaded the keeper though and really should have done better than shoot over with defenders scrambling back.  It was a let-off for England and a wake up call for some sloppy defending.

After ten minutes of scrappy play England began to string their passing together and possession wise they dominated the half.  Worryingly, after twenty minutes England had yet to carve out a clear chance, but their passing improved as the half wore on and eventually the chances began to arrive.  Rooney met a cross from Glen Johnson but shot wide and then on 21 minutes Heskey flicked the ball on and Rooney won possession, cut back inside and seemed certain to score.  But full-back Miso Brecko, who was impressive throughout, recovered brilliantly to deflect the ball over the bar.  From the resultant corner by Steven Gerrard, John Terry leaped high to power in a header, which crashed back off the crossbar.  It was Terry himself who then tried an overhead kick from the rebound but to no avail.

Under Capello one thing is very noticeable, and that is how hard the players work, and all round the team England chased, harried and made themselves available for teammates, it was good to see.

On 28 minutes England deservedly took the lead, although in a somewhat fortuitous manner.  Gerrard won the ball on the left and centred with the outside of his right boot, Rooney went for it under a challenge from Bostjan Cesar.  Both players went to ground and Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson decided Cesar had fouled Rooney and gave a penalty.  It was one of those challenges you see many times and for England to gain a penalty from it was debatable to say the least.  However, after Slovenia's arguments died down and Cesar was taken off injured, Frank Lampard calmly slotted home the spot-kick.  The goal was timed as 31 minutes, three minutes after the penalty was given.

England were now on top and they should have added to their lead three minutes later.  Lampard's corner was headed on by Upson, and Rooney, stood on his own at the far post, struck his left-foot shot against the post from just two yards out.  It was an amazing miss from this talented player.  Gerrard also went close with a 20 yard shot that curled agonisingly just wide of Samir Handanović's goal, and then Rooney's early cross was met by Heskey but the Aston Villa striker headed wide.

The second half began with Defoe on for Heskey, Aaron Lennon on for the ineffective Wright-Phillips, and James Milner and Michael Carrick on for the rested Gerrard and Lampard.  England were soon pressing forward, again showing good build up play and some sharp passing.  Johnson's cross found Defoe, but the ball was deflected for a corner, and then Milner's good cross evaded everyone.  At the other end Green made a good punched clearance from a dangerous Koren cross before England added their second goal.

It came in the 63^rd minute as Lennon and Defoe combined.  When Lennon's pass inside found the Spurs striker just outside the box Defoe had just one thing on his mind and that was to fire in a shot, and what a strike it was.  Straight into the far corner with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.  It did take a slight deflection but the ball was hit hard and went just where Defoe aimed it.

England were now in complete control and sent on Joleon Lescott for Upson.  Lescott looked a little less than fully fit, not surprising after his last few weeks, but it did not affect England's dominance.  On 71 minutes great work by the lively Lennon set up Rooney for another simple chance, but once again a defender, this time Mavric, managed to clear from the goalline.  In the final fifteen minutes England's dominance annoyingly turned into some sloppy and careless play.  Carrick's passing was poor and Johnson's defensive shortcomings were again exposed.  In the 85^th minute Nejc Pečnik too easily turned Johnson before crossing for Zlatan Ljubijankic to get in front of Lescott and guide an excellent header past Green.  Yet again England had failed to keep a clean sheet and that is something that would be very useful against Croatia.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
NZS.si (official Slovenian FA website)
TheFA.com
ITV Sport
SkySports.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
Clive Tyldesley
Marcel Hoefsmit
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CG