Match Summary

England Team

Slovakia Team

Before the game one or two people questioned the wisdom of manager Roy Hodgson's team changes for this final group match against Slovakia.  And it must be said that any momentum gained from the win over Wales was probably lost because of those changes.  Having said that, rarely has an England team enjoyed so much possession and domination as they did in this game, with only the finishing ruining what could have been a clever decision by the coach.

England were soon on the front foot and when Nathaniel Clyne burst down the right and crossed into the box Jamie Vardy stuck out a leg to deflect the ball over the bar.  The pattern of the match was set after just ten minutes with England probing and passing the ball from side to side trying to draw out a Slovakia side who kept all eleven players back for the whole 90 minutes.  What England needed to do was to try and unlock that defensive set up.  Half-chances came and went as Vardy almost sent Daniel Sturridge in, Adam Lallana dragged a left-foot shot wide from a good position, and then a fine move involving Jack Wilshere and Lallana set up Jordan Henderson, but his shot was deflected wide, one of many shots deflected by desperate lunges.

The first clear chance fell to Vardy in the 17th minute.  Henderson fine long pass sent Vardy away Leicester-like.  The striker easily out-paced Martin Skrtel but the final shot was straight at goalkeeper Matus Kozacik, although credit to the goalkeeper who got down quickly as Vardy roared in.  How many times did we see Vardy tuck those chances away in the season just ended.  If that chance had been taken we would probably have seen a much different game.

England made some promising breaks with passes from Wilshere, and runs from Clyne, who was doing his best to outshine Kyle Walker at right-back.  Indeed, good pressure was coming from England, but once again that final ball was not forthcoming.  On 33 minutes another fine run by Clyne this time ended with a fine pull-back to Lallana.  The Liverpool midfield player hit the ball well enough but at a height that made it easy for Kozacik to parry the ball away.  England's build up was a little ponderous but with Slovakia content with just sitting back to wait for the next attack England had to show some invention.  This led to some lackadaisical moments from England as too many players opted for the easy pass.  But they were all working hard and Eric Dier and Henderson were lively throughout the first-half.  On 44 minutes another good move ended with the ball dropping for Henderson to hit a fierce volley.  Again, though a defender deflected the ball away with a desperate block.  Joe Hart had not had a save to make and the defenders were doing their job well but at half-time Hodgson needed to talk to his forwards.

After the restart the same pattern soon developed, only this time it seemed that Slovakia had brought on all their squad players to bolster their defence such was their defending in numbers game!  Wilshere and Sturridge's deft flicks were not coming off and Ryan Bertrand was booked as the frustration of it all began to show.  On 52 minutes Hart and Chris Smalling almost presented Slovakia with an unlikely goal.  Smalling tried to chest the ball to Hart but sold him short and luckily for England the Slovakian player couldn't quite get a firm enough touch on the loose ball and England scrambled it away.  They then went straight down the other end and only a block by Kozacik stopped Clyne from scoring.  Hart then had to save from Vladimir Weiss before England again took control.

On 56 minutes Wayne Rooney was sent on for the ineffective Wilshere and he ballooned his first three touches out of play!  It was all too easy for Slovakia to defend against and Hodgson decided to bring on Deli Alli for Lallana, who was nowhere near as effective as in his previous two appearances.  Alli's first touch on 61 minutes so nearly brought the goal England craved.  He met a cross at the far post and Skrtel somehow managed to deflect the ball off the line and over with his outstretched foot, after the goalkeeper was beaten.

Dier was England's best player on the night and he tried hard to find the gaps as he strode forward purposely.  He shot wide with one good effort but was always ready to start another move, winning the ball back and feeding his fellow midfield players and forwards.  Sturridge was coming deeper and deeper to escape the shackles of some tight marking and Vardy hardly had a touch in this half.  To be fair to him, he was never given a decent pass.  Clyne stopped trying to beat his full-back, as he had done well in the first-half, and then on 73 minutes a lovely chipped pass forward from Dier came over Sturridge's left shoulder to give him a great chance.  Sadly the striker missed the ball when the goal gaped.  It was almost Sturridge's last 'touch' as he was soon replaced by Harry Kane.

Other chances came and went as Henderson saw another shot deflected and then Rooney scuffed a shot wide.  Kane couldn't quite reach Henderson's cross with his head and the game finally petered out after Alli shot over and Kozacik managed to waste precious minutes every time he gained possession.  The five minutes added was not a true reflection of what should have been added.

This was a disappointing performance by England, although to be fair to them they absolutely dominated possession and but for some poor finishing would have won at a canter.  At least they are safely through to the next stage and hopefully, when we play against sides in the knockout stages they will want to win as well, unlike Slovakia, and maybe, just maybe that might open the way for England.  Sooner or later these many chances are all going to go in.
   

Source Notes