England laboured against Slovenia in their final Euro 2024 group match, with concerns remaining despite Gareth Southgate 's side moving through to the round of 16 as group winners.
Southgate's men thought they had the lead inside 20 minutes, only for Phil Foden to stray offside before rolling the ball across for Bukayo Saka to tap home. When the Three Lions went in level at the break, though, they knew they needed to do more in the second period.
After a dismal opening 45 minutes, though, Southgate rang the changes. Kobbie Mainoo and then Cole Palmer made it onto the field, as if to answer the calls some outside the England camp have been making during the week.
Slovenia held firm, though, frustrating England as the game wemt on. Progress might be assured, but England didn't look like tournament winners in waiting on the strength of this performance.
A quiet opening saw Benjamin Sesko remind England they couldn't assume victory was a done deal, though his headed effort didn't cause Jordan Pickford too much trouble. Celebrations over Saka's disallowed goal were quickly cut short, but the energy of the move did at least make for a livelier end to the first half.
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It was Foden who forced the first meaningful save of the game, testing Jan Oblak with a free-kick, but the keeper was equal to it. England kept knocking on the door as the first half drew on, with Harry Kane inches away from turning a dangerous cross into the Slovenia net, but it was all square at the break.
There were chances in the second period, including Declan Rice flashing a powerful effort off-target, but Slovenia didn't look under too much pressure for the most part. There was time for one late chance, with Cole Palmer firing down the throat of Oblak, but it ended all-square.
1. Gallagher change backfires
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Conor Gallagher was only given 45 minutes (Getty Images)There were calls for all number of changes in the days before the game, but in the end Southgate only made one. The Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment was paused if not outright abandoned, with Conor Gallagher brought in after a pair of substitute appearances.
The Chelsea midfielder was brought in to offer something different to Alexander-Arnold, but there were a couple of first-half moments where his use of the ball might have left England in trouble against a more dynamic opponent. And 45 minutes was all he got, with Kobbie Mainoo brought on for the second period.
Mainoo had only played a few minutes in the tournament before this game, but looked to be playing with the intent of a young man who knew a solid display could earn him a start in the next round.
2. Rice's pressing comments put to the test
Declan Rice told people to expect a more front-foot display against Slovenia (UEFA via Getty Images)Before the game, Declan rice indicated there would be a higher press from England. "I think you’ll see a team that wants to be on the front foot and wants to press Slovenia high up the pitch," the Arsenal midfielder said after rubbishing suggestions the players didn't have the fitness levels to deliver on that front.
There were a hanful of moments where pressure from the England players looked capable of unsettling their opponents. The running off the ball appeared more pointed, too, though without much reward in the early stages.
Issues remained with the ball, though, as Slovenia dared England to come at them in the second half. There was a bit more adventure thanks to Mainoo's introduction, but if this is all England can do against a tough-to-break-down opponent then even a last-16 win might be beyond them.
3. Sesko underwhelms with Premier League watching
Benjamin Sesko was starved of opportunities for much of the game (Getty Images)International tournaments can often be all about form players, and Benjamin Sesko was exactly that going into the Euros. The RB Leipzig striker scored in each of his last seven Bundesliga games, but it was a different story since donning the colours of his country in June.
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That late-season form prompted Premier League interest, not least from Arsenal, though he has committed his future to Leipzig for another year. On the strength of this tournament, it might not be a bad thing for him to continue his development in Germany before making another move.
Sesko was a largely anonymous figure in the first half, save for one tame early effort. When he made way for Josip Ilicic after 75 minutes, there was a sense he could have played another hour before getting close to threatening.
4. Kane calling out for something different
There was a moment in the first half when Phil Foden tried a swift one-two with Harry Kane only for the England captain to get caught on his heels. It was just one element of a 45-minute period where Kane looked to be more of a hindrance than a help at times - a far cry from his previous tournament displays.
Harry Kane had a tough first half against Slovenia (Getty Images)No one can question the quality Kane has in front of goal. His record in what could have been a tricky debut season in Munich is testament to that.
In this kind of tournament, though, the kinds of openings he has enjoyed in the Bundesliga haven't been as easy to come by, while his tendency to drop deep arguably limited the impact of team-mate Jude Bellingham.
5. What this means for the round of 16
Gareth Southgate looking on during England vs Slovenia (UEFA via Getty Images)Before the game got underway, France's dropped points against Poland left England with even more of an incentive to win - not that they needed any more motivation. Top spot in Group C was guaranteed to send England into the opposite half of the draw to Les Bleus - as well as Spain, Portugal and Germany.
For as long as England were level, rivals Denmark knew they could claim top spot with a win of their own. They too were level at the break, though, against a Serbia side chasing a vital win of their own.
Denmark and Serbia were still playing when England finished, but their game also ended goalless, giving England a round-of-16 tie against a third-placed team. Slovenia, meanwhile, were left celebrating qualification for the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
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