Following in the footsteps of France, England also enter the knockout phase of the European Championship with a poor showing. Gareth Southgate's team also drew with Slovenia (0:0) and were unduly rewarded with the group win.
England scored three times in their third group game against the number 57 team in the FIFA rankings. A goal by Bukayo Saka was disallowed due to a clear offside by Phil Foden. Apart from that, the game more or less burbled along away from the penalty areas - perhaps also because a draw also helped the Slovenians to progress.
For the country with world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak and substitute Lugano striker Zan Celar, who drew for the third time in their third match, this will be their first knockout phase at a final tournament. England, for their part, will avoid a round of 16 clash with Germany as group winners. Nevertheless, the Three Lions will have to hope that they trotted through the group stage under the motto "A horse only jumps as high as it has to", as they did three years ago on their way to losing the European Championship final against Italy.
England did their duty in what was on paper an easy group with Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia. The five points for the draws against Slovenia and Denmark and the narrow opening win against Serbia were even enough to secure a valuable group win.
Quarter-final duel against Switzerland possible
Thanks to this flattering first place, the English not only avoid a quarter-final duel with Germany, they also do not end up in the same half of the table as the hosts, Spain, France and Portugal. Instead, they will face an as yet unknown third-placed team and will meet the winner of the match between Switzerland and Italy in the quarter-finals.
Considering what they have shown so far, that is too good a reward for the Three Lions, who are difficult to beat but play extremely defensively. Even against Slovenia, England's star ensemble led by Jude Bellingham, who had already qualified for the knockout phase before the match but were practically at their best, showed so little offensive drive and attacking power that it was painful to watch.
Telegram
England - Slovenia 0:0
Cologne. - 41'536 spectators. - Ref Turpin (FRA).
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guéhi, Trippier (84. Alexander-Arnold); Gallagher (46. Mainoo), Rice; Saka (71. Palmer), Bellingham, Foden (90. Gordon); Kane.
Slovenia: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza (91. Balkovec); Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar (86. Gorenc Stankovic); Sporar (86. Celar), Sesko (76. Ilicic).
Remarks: Cautions: 17 Trippier, 22 Janza (suspended for the round of 16), 68 Guéhi, 72 Bijol, 77 Foden.
Live ticker
England
Slovenia
-
Liveticker
-
Liveticker closed
-
-
90.+5.End of 2nd half
-
90.+2.Substitution in Slovenia
Jure Balkovec
Defender
-
90.+2.Substitution out Slovenia
Erik Janza
Defender
-
89.Substitution in England
Anthony Gordon
Striker
-
89.Substitution out England
Phil Foden
Midfielder
-
86.Substitution in Slovenia
Zan Celar
Striker
-
86.Substitution out Slovenia
Andraz Sporar
Striker
-
86.Substitution in Slovenia
Jon Gorenc-Stankovic
Midfielder
-
86.Substitution out Slovenia
Jan Mlakar
Midfielder
-
84.Substitution in England
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Defender
-
84.Substitution out England
Kieran Trippier
Defender
-
77.Yellow card England
Phil Foden
-
75.Substitution in Slovenia
Josip Ilicic
Striker
-
75.Substitution out Slovenia
Benjamin Sesko
Striker
-
72.Yellow card Slovenia
Jaka Bijol
-
71.Substitution in England
Cole Palmer
Midfielder
-
71.Substitution out England
Bukayo Saka
Midfielder
-
68.Yellow card England
Marc Guéhi
-
46.Substitution in England
Kobbie Mainoo
Midfielder
-
46.Substitution out England
Conor Gallagher
Midfielder
-
46.Kick-off 2nd half
-
45.+2.End of 1st half
-
22.Yellow card Slovenia
Erik Janza
-
17.Yellow card England
Kieran Trippier
-
1.Start of the match
