So, another day, and another indifferent performance by our team that frustrates all who were watching.  Okay, I accept that in the end it was better, but only after changes were made and players chomping at the bit to get on the field of play, were finally released from their shackles.  And changing to 4-3-3 was also a better move.

When the first half started we were told to expect a fierce pressing game from England, but that never transpired for a long and tedious half.  In fact, the early stages were littered with poor passes from the back line, it did not auger well.  After five minutes the first effort came from Benjamin Sesko, the Slovenian danger man.  His header was easily saved though, the hardest work that Jordan Pickford had to do all match!  England, meanwhile, resumed the pattern that we have seen so often lately, not the most auspicious of starts, just more of the same.  Kieran Trippier was booked for a late challenge to add to the misery, but the free-kick passed harmlessly wide.

On 20 minutes a glimmer of hope as a long ball found Phil Foden and from his early cross Bukayo Saka had an easy tap-in finish to put the ball into the net.  The cheers soon subsided though as a linesman's flag was spotted raised on the far side for offside against Foden.  Kyle Walker was the next to be pulled up for a foul and on the whole the England players looked bewildered and frustrated as they tried to gain control of the game.  Some of the passes went straight to a blue shirt from England, they were playing in white by the way.

On 27 minutes a typical Manchester City type burst from Foden ended with his pass towards Kane, but Kane was unable to reach the pass.  Some fierce battling by Jude Bellingham and Foden then won a corner, and gradually, just gradually, England were starting to gain the upper hand.  A minute later Kane shoots after Declan Rice won a tackle, but goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a comfortable save.  Foden saw a good shot well saved and on 40 minutes Trippier's cross just missed the desperate lunge of Kane.  The referee, a lookalike for Belgium's Leandro Trossard, was ultra fussy at times and he gave several unnecessary free-kicks to both sides as the half petered out, to booing from some of the England fans.

The experiment of starting with Conor Gallagher had not worked and after the break Kobbie Mainoo came on to inject a bit of flair that was so desperately needed.  The half started well for England and there was a definite improvement in the pace of the passing and Foden's volley on 51 minutes went just wide.  For the next ten minutes there was a sustained spell of attacking from England and the Slovenian defence was at full stretch at times, but the final ball was never quite there.  On 57 minutes it looked certain that England would score as, following a corner, there was a bout of head-tennis, as the ball bobbed around the Slovenian goalline.  Alas, the final killer touch wasn't there.

After an hour's play, I wrote in my notes that now was the time to bring on the game changers from the bench, but that didn't happen for another ten minutes, when Gareth Southgate relented and brought on Cole Palmer.  Immediately you saw a difference as the Chelsea man started to create danger from the right.  Saka hadn't played well, and rarely tries to go past his man whereas straight away Palmer was determined to do just that.  Kane was then flattened by Jaka Bijol, but as with all the other free-kicks taken by Trippier, nothing came from the resultant kick.  Then, on 74 minutes Rice had his best moment with a great shot that flew inches wide after he combined with Foden.  Three minutes later Palmer and Mainoo combined and Mainoo's pull back was begging to be fired home, but there was no England player there to do it.  More frustration.

On 88 minutes, as an afterthought by Southgate, Anthony Gordon was sent on, and immediately again we saw a different and exciting approach from the Newcastle player.  Only four minutes were added on at the end by the referee, which seemed preposterous to me after all the time that was wasted.  But in the second minute of that added time, a great pass from Gordon was flicked into the path of Palmer by Kane and this was without doubt the best chance of the match.  Palmer hit the ball hard but Oblak was down well at his near post to save.  On reflection, Palmer might have done better as instead of passing the shot he maybe should have blasted it just like the Italian did at the end of the previous day's game.

The referee blew the final whistle and the Slovenia side danced with delight at finally making it to the knock-out stage.  As for England, their heads were down and several were stood motionless.  However, we won the group, and everyone says that we always improve as the tournaments we are in progress.  That remains to be seen, but all the fans want to see is just a little more of what we saw in that final ten minutes.  Some exciting movement and flair shown by the subs who came on. 

Generally, it was better by England after the interval, but that vital spark is still missing when the ball is in the final third, and contrary to the belief of some, possession doesn't win matches, it's goals that are the key.  The good news is, we are through to the next round.
     

Source Notes