L’England by Gary Southgate does not go beyond the 0-0 against Matjaz Kek’s difficult Slovenia but despite this he snatches passage to the round of 16 of Euro 2024 from before group C. The match played at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne was stingy with emotions and of scoring opportunities with the Three Lions national team, truly very disappointing in terms of game ideas and determination in all three matches of this group and against opponents, at least on paper, certainly not irresistible. Colorless performances from the two stars of the English national team with Foden and Bellingham in the shade and uninspired. The road to the round of 16 was quite tortuous and lackluster for Southgate’s England which on the eve of this European Championship, given the great value of the squad, was (and perhaps still is) considered one of the great favorites to win the final.
THE Three LionsHowever, they qualify for the next round as currently the “worst” first place with only 5 points, with a narrow victory, two draws, two goals scored and one conceded. Now, Southgate’s national team awaits the third-placed team from the DEF group and we will have to wait until tomorrow to wait for the last four scheduled matches. Slovenia, however, goes through to the round, as third in the group, by virtue of a worse UEFA ranking than Denmark who did exactly like the Kek national team with three points collected, a goal difference of zero and the fairplay classification in total parity. With this first place, England is positioned in the lower part of the scoreboard, therefore from that of Spalletti’s Italy and if it wins its round of 16 match still to be determined in the quarterfinals it will face the winner of Italy-Switzerland.
The match report
After 20 minutes of substantial boredom and balance, theEngland breaks through with Saka: Trippier serves Rice who passes to Foden who finishes for the Arsenal player who scores: everything stops however due to the offside position at the start of the Manchester City player. Minute 35′ free kick again from Foden who forces Oblak to save. Towards the end of the first half, in the 40th minute, a great opportunity for England who are inches away from scoring: Bellingham serves Trippier, who crosses hard to the far post with Gallagher and Kane who miss the contact with the ball by a hair’s breadth. The first half ends with the score tied in an ugly match that is hungry for scoring opportunities and excitement. In the second half, Southgate immediately replaces Gallagher and brings on the talented Mainoo but the substance does not change. After half an hour of sleepy play, Rice takes care of it in the 75th minute to shoot at goal after a nice one-two with Foden: the ball goes just wide. In the 92nd minute, a good move by England with Palmer getting to the shot: Oblak saves on the ground.
The scoreboard
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier (84′ Alexandre-Arnold); Gallagher (46′ Mainoo), Rice; Saka (71′ Palmer), Bellingham, Foden (90′ Gordon); Kane. Coach Gary Southgate
Slovenia: Oblak, Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza (91′ Balkovec); Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; (86′ Stankovic) Sporar (86′ Celar), Sesko (75′ Ilicic). Technical commissioner Matjaz Kek
Markers:
Warned: Trippier (I), Janza (S), Guehi (I), Bijol (S), Foden (I)
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
Stadium: RheinEnergieStadion (Cologne)
