England 1 v Slovenia 0 - WC 2018 Qualifier

Thursday 5th October 2017
World Cup 2018 Qualifying Group F
England (0) 1
Harry Kane 90+4
Slovenia (0) 0
Admission £20
Attendance 61,598

England:
1 Joe Hart, 2 Kyle Walker, 6 John Stones, 5 Gary Cahill, 3 Ryan Bertrand, 8 Jordan Henderson, 4 Eric Dier, 11 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (22 Jesse Lingard 64), 7 Raheem Sterling (16 Michael Keane 85) 10 Marcus Rashford, 9 Harry Kane
Unused subs - 13 Jack Butland, 23 Jordan Pickford, 12 Chris Smalling, 14 Kieran Trippier, 15 Harry Maguire, 17 Aaron Cresswell, 18 Jermain Defoe, 19 Jake Livermore, 20 Daniel Sturridge, 21 Harry Winks
Slovenia:
1 Jan Oblak; 23 Aljaz Struna, 17 Miha Mevlja, 5 Bostjan Cesar (c ), 13 Bojan Jokic; 18 Rajko Rotman (9 Tim Matavz 79), 6 Rene Krhin; 14 Roman Bezjak (19 Jan Repas 72), 7 Josip Ilicic, 21 Benjamin Verbic; 11 Andraz Sporar (10 Valter Birsa 55)
Unused subs - 12 Vid Belec, 16 Jan Koprivec, 2 Nejc Skubic, 3 Mitka Viler, 4 Matija Sirok, 8 Jasmin Kurtic, 15 Antonio Delamea-Mlinar, , 20 Damjan Bohar, 22 Amedej Vetrih.

Tonight England just about tripped over the finishing line, as they qualified for the World Cup in Russia next year, with the kind of unconvincing display that suggested we shouldn't really being expecting too much from them, if anything at all, when they get there and the tournament gets underway for real.
Yesterday's announcement that Southern Trains and London Underground's strike action that had been planned for today had been called off, came too late for a lot of people who, like the rest of us, have to plan tickets, travel and time off work well in advance.
So thanks for that you set of c*nts!
And while people are squealing with delight about all of the empty and 'unsold' seats at the national stadium tonight, because it is a national obsession to slag the England team off for everything and anything,check your facts... and might I suggest that you try travelling regularly at the beck and call of the appalling train network in this country, especially down south, before criticising people who simply couldn't and/or wouldn't take the risk, either financially or logistically, that they would even get to Wembley tonight, regardless of how meticulously they had planned ahead or how much they've shelled out.

For purposes of clarification, this
crest actually adorns my left arm.

That said, at least those who chose, or should I say, had their hand forced into not travelling tonight and watched the game on TV at home, or in bar instead, had the opportunity to flick channels, while those of us who made it in time for kick off, for the most part, had to create our own entertainment for long spells of the game.
I was particularly irked during all of the 'fun and  games', because I have always  been crap at making and chucking paper planes.
England did what they had to do and also gave Scotland a bit of a leg up in the process. Gareth Southgate's side only needed a point to be sure of qualification, they took three, Slovenia needed not to lose to keep their play off hopes alive and had it not been for Joe Hart as he made a fine save to deny Tim Matavz after he put clean through by Josip Ilicic, they might actually have squeaked a win with their only shot on target.
As I looked through the substitute options available to Southgate, so he could inject some life into this game... though I appreciate that you have to give fringe players a go in countdown to a major tournament, in case fate dictates that they'll need to be chucked in at the deep end at the eleventh hour, I had to lament over how many of these back up players, could be considered international class, let alone world class. Jermain Defoe would've given the Wembley crowd a lift, but he's getting on a bit now. FFS, I can only hope and pray that a few of these emerging players can prove me wrong, but I have some severe reservations.

England made hard work winning the game with a solitary Harry Kane goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when the much maligned Kyle Walker intercepted a poor kick from Oblak, raced forward on the right and delivered a perfect cross for Kane to poke home from close range.
It didn't exactly send those who were still inside the stadium into rapturous celebrations, but the relief was quite tangible nevertheless.
The 7.45pm kick off had meant that I was pushing it to get to Wembley in time for kick off if I'd hit any snags because I didn't get into Kings Cross until sixty one minutes before kick off, but I was in my seat just before half past seven and the 23.30 departure back up to the North Midlands has afforded me enough time to sit up on the balcony at the station watching all of the wome... err, world go by (and there were some quite spectacular sights around tonight too) and knock up this short overview of an England fan's trip to the big bad city after finishing work.

As we went our separate ways at Newark Northgate station, I reminded my travelling companions:
"Don't forget the England Under 21 game against Scotland at Middlesbrough tomorrow night lads! Laaads!!! Oi! You lot come back!"
I love my country and always have, always will support my national team, but they were dull, uninspiring, boring and even looked disinterested in doing anything other than the bare minimum tonight, so if that is what the St George's Park DNA is all about, I don't reckon that I shall be heading to the Riverside to watch anymore of that mind numbing tedium tomorrow night either.
God bless all of you lot who are heading up to Teesside and those who are heading out to Lithuania tomorrow for the final group game, you have more fortitude and a higher pain threshold to me.
England won tonight, but it felt like I had witnessed something wholly unattractive that fell some way short, of even my lowly expectations of the national team.

England expects! Too damn much sometimes and the national psyche needs a massive reality check, but I'm not going to try and excuse tonight's tedium in any way.

Of course, I've already made arrangements for the forthcoming Wembley friendlies against Germany and Brazil, but football fans are like that, we still turn up and support their team when they are playing crap and we don't expect them to win.

Love is...
watching crap football matches together

Each and every one of us here, killing time until our late night trains leave this very modern railway station have our crosses to bear, they're blood red on a white background... and though we are not exactly feeling the vibe or even a glimmer of optimism after tonight's victory and it's consequences, we wouldn't have it any other way. If you don't understand why we're here, it would be pointless trying to explain it to you anyway.

FT: England 1 v Slovenia 0

I've had some great days (and nights) at Wembley, both when it was still in all of it's original glory and since it became the comfortable stadium it is today, way back from in the day when the boot boys ruled the roost, right through to the modern day, when the matchday experience has been taken over by face painted, wide eyed tourists, who won't be happy until they have waved at themselves on the big screens and started at least two Mexican waves... it's a football match, not effing Billy Smart's Circus, respect that you cretins! 

I will have hopefully forgotten about this woeful showing, by the time that you wake up in the morning and read this 'diary of a misery guts' cum suicide note over your sugar coated Frosties... they're great!!! 

England certainly weren't tonight.