England once again put their fans through a night of frustration as they played out a stalemate against Slovenia to round off Group C.
England did claim top-spot – thereby avoiding a last-16 clash with Germany and the half of the draw with the hosts, France, Spain and Portugal – though that owed as much to Denmark’s failure to beat Serbia in the night’s other game, which also finished goalless in Munich.
They will now face a third-placed finisher at 5pm BST on Sunday in the Round of 16.
The #ThreeLions head into the #EURO2024 knockout stage as group winners 💪 pic.twitter.com/S8oMxjfuA7
— England (@England) June 25, 2024
After a sloppy start England dominated possession and territory but struggled to open up a disciplined opponent in the opening 45 minutes.
Gareth Southgate did turn to his bench with Conor Gallagher withdrawn at the break in favour of Kobbie Mainoo and then Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Trent Alexander-Arnold – at right back – seeing action before the close.
Three of those subs combined to tee-up England’s best chance in stoppage time but Palmer bobbled a shot straight at Jan Oblak before the final whistle was greeted by boos from many England fans in Cologne.
Slovenia – who have gone unbeaten in the group with three draws – have now lost just once in 14 matches and reach the knockout stages of a tournament for the first time.
Another slow start
England looked a bit sloppy from the get-go and Jude Bellingham gave the ball away cheaply which paved the way for Benjamin Sesko to escape John Stones momentarily, but could only send a tame header straight at Jordan Pickford in the opening five minutes after a deep cross from the left was nodded back into the middle.
Kieran Tripper went into the book for a challenge on Zan Karnicnik while Andraz Sporar produced a speculative flick and volley from outside the area which was held by a sprawling Pickford.
Bukayo Saka saw his celebrations cut short by the offside flag after some welcome incisive football from England on 20 minutes, Kieran Tripper fed Declan Rice and then Foden burst onto Rice’s first-time return pass before squaring for Saka to turn home, only for the goal to be disallowed for Foden straying beyond the last defender.
Pickford raced to the edge of his area to prevent Sesko latching onto a through ball on the break just before the hour but England were growing in stature and Harry Kane saw a shot on the spin charged down before curling straight at Jan Oblak from the edge of the area soon after.
England and Slovenia share the points 🤝
England top Group C 🏴#EURO2024 | #ENGSVN pic.twitter.com/VtUAncDydS
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 25, 2024
Oblak had to scamper across his line to claw a powerful 35-yard Foden free-kick out of his top corner while Tripper’s inswinging cross on 40 minutes was inches away from Conor Gallagher’s head, Kane’s toe and the far post.
Kane tried a 35-yard blast which cannoned behind off a defender before some muted boos greeted the half-time whistle after just two seconds of added time.
Mainoo was introduced in place of Gallagher at half-time and immediately began flitting about with intent as England resumed their dominance of possession and territory with noticeably more one one-touch passing.
Foden dragged a hugely ambitious 40-yard volley well wide of target while Kyle Walker skewed a cushioned volley over the frame of goal while trying to return a promising deep cross into the middle for Kane.
Just before the hour Foden’s inviting free-kick was glanced away from Kane three yards out by defender Jaka Bijol while Saka was penalised for attempting an overhead kick after some head-tennis from the subsequent corner.
A rare foray forward saw Adam Cerin slash a long-range shot well wide of Pickford’s goal while a lapse in concentration from Marc Guehi saw him go into the book for a tug on Sporar who was threatening to break away on 67 minutes.
Palmer replaced Saka with 20 minutes remaining to a raucous welcome from the vociferous England fans and Kane soon won a free-kick which earned Bijol a caution but which Tripper wasted.
Rice fizzed a first-time shot past the angle of post and bar after a nice exchange with Foden on 75 minutes while Mainoo’s fine cut-back after a pass from Palmer went begging with no England player running in.
Alexander-Arnold, who had been dropped for Gallagher in Southgate’s only change, replaced Tripper at right-back in the closing stages, with Walker reverting to left-back, while Gordon got the final few minutes in place of Foden.
It was the Newcastle man who started the move which saw flicks from Mainoo and Kane give Palmer a sight of goal on the right of the box, but he could only curl a left-footed effort straight at the keeper.
