Euro 2016 qualifier: 10 talking points from England and Slovenia

14 June 2015 21:01

England’s 3 – 2 win over Slovenia in Ljubljana was about 10 times more entertaining in the second half, when England really came alive.

1. What colour England were

England's Wayne Rooney (centre) about and elbow from Slovenia's Jasmin Kurtic (8) during the UEFA European Championship Qualifying match at the Stozice Stadium, Slovenia.
(Mike Egerton/PA)

2. Phil Jones’s terrible throw

It led to a counter attack for the first Slovenia goal. He seemed to be a baffling choice at right-back ahead of Nathaniel Clyne. Hooked at half-time.

3. Henderson playing right back

England's Jordan Henderson during the UEFA European Championship Qualifying match at the Stozice Stadium, Slovenia.
(Mike Egerton/PA)

4. Gary Cahill’s defensive mistake

The most we saw of Cahill was when he tried – and failed – to play Milivoje Novakovic offside with dire consequences. It led to Slovenia’s first goal.

5. Roy Hodgson’s reaction to said goal

Did he just nod off?

6. Rooney’s missed opportunities

For most of the match it seemed he just couldn’t find the back of the net. The skipper missed golden chances, although one did draw a top-class save from Samir Handanovic in the first half.

Then even when he was offside at 66 minutes, he hit the post. It wasn’t looking like Rooney’s day – he got an elbow in the head by the Slovenian captain (who was lucky not to get a red card) and all Rooney got was a free kick, which he missed of course.

England's Wayne Rooney holds his ankle during the UEFA European Championship Qualifying match at the Stozice Stadium, Slovenia.
May as well have just adopted this position for most of the match Rooney (Mike Egerton/PA)

Then FINALLY he got his goal (his 48th England goal, making him level with Gary Lineker in international goals for the country) when it really mattered.

He told ITV afterwards: “It’s great to score the winner and it was a great team performance.We were unlucky to be 1-0 down and we spoke about that at half-time and came out on the front foot.”

7. When we were reminded of a simpler non- HD time

8. Jack Wilshire’s brilliance

Apart from putting England back in the game when they were 0-1 down, he won a lot of possession back throughout the match. The midfielder’s first goal was a perfect  finish after the ball dropped to him just outside the penalty box. His first international goal was followed by a second.

9. The impact of the substitutes

Adam Lallana came on for Jones at half time and made a big impression, playing a key role in the equaliser. Meanwhile Theo Walcott, who came on for Townsend at 75 minutes, played a part in Rooney’s winner by drawing the foul that led to the goal.

10.  Raheem Sterling justifying Hodgson’s faith

England's Raheem Sterling, left, is challenged by Slovenia's Bostjan Cesar during the Euro 2016 Group E qualifying soccer match between Slovenia and England, in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sterling leaving Bostjan Cesar in his wake (Darko Bandic/AP/PA)

The prolonged contract dispute with Liverpool led their fans to turn on Sterling towards the end of the season – a reception home fans replicated throughout last weekend’s friendly in the Republic of Ireland. Hodgson expressed concern that the winger is not currently tough enough to deal with such abuse, but trusted him to start in today’s game.

Off the pitch matters aside, it was an impressive display from Sterling in attack and defence. His quick feet and balance allowed him to turn the hosts in knots, while his tracking back was notable throughout. The display was more like the Sterling onlookers had become accustomed to, showing a fearlessness in attack and a desire to create.

He should have scored inside four minutes though. The winger wasted a glorious chance when put through and somehow turning onto the roof of the net from close range. Sterling continued to threaten and an exceptional second-half run could have also ended in a shot, but he selflessly played out to Rooney.

Source: SNAPPA