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Fabio Capello - annoyed by England's concentration levels |
Slovenly England need to keep clean sheets
Capello mindful of concentration lapses, as three Lions get ready for Croat World Cup clash
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY -
WEMBLEY STADIUM
England 2 Slovenia 1
BEFORE this clash manager Fabio Capello had said this was a welcome test beyond that of a friendly and one which should serve England well with their preparations for the real thing, the World Cup Qualifier against Croatia this Wednesday.
After the match he was to sum up his team's 2-1 victory against Slovenia in these terms: "I think this is a very difficult team to play against. Friendly games are very important. I studied and learnt a lot about individual players.
"The concentration was not good in the last four or five minutes. We played too slow, and the long ball, not a style I like. I want the players' concentration focused at every moment."
His comments came after England, conceded a relatively soft goal in the 85th minute when Robert Green was beaten on the near post by a low header from Zlatan Ljubijankic after Nejc Penik had made space down the left.
It was a disappointment for the hosts who had dominated the match and could have done without an eight-minute period of such self-imposed pressure to finish the game.
Capello's anxious body language pitchside had already displayed his displeasure with his side's efforts in those final stages.
England had started brightly, having the better of the exchanges in the first 15 minutes.
Steven Gerrard found himself free and in space on the left edge of the penalty box after just two minutes. His side-footed cross was, however, far too strong for an expectant Wayne Rooney.
When Emile Heskey was brought down heavily three minutes later, the free kick was from almost the same spot, but this time keeper Samir Handanovic made the first of a number of punched clearances.
As the match developed Slovenia carved out a few decent chances, especially down the left flank, but invariably lacked a final, telling, ball.
Milivoje Novakovic came closest after a mistake by Matthew Upson had put him through on goal. Having rounded Green, he failed to control his floated shot and watched it soar just over the bar.
In the 22nd minute the ball broke for Rooney, who was full of running, after a slow turn by defender Miso Brecko. The Manchester United player cut inside and his shot was pushed over off the recovering defender's outstretched foot. From the corner John Terry's brave header, which saw him beat two players, hit the bar.
Just before the half-hour, defender Bostjan Cesar was adjudged to have brought Rooney down in the area, though the attacker seemed to be the one making free with his opponent's shirt. Cesar was booked and booed for going down injured but was substituted after he saw Frank Lampard dispatch the spot-kick wide of the keeper's right. A swollen ankle, his manager Matjaz Kek later said, threatened to keep him out of the running for Slovenia's own Wednesday qualifier against Poland.
After that England had the visitors on the back foot for the remainder of the half with good chances falling to Rooney, who hit the post from a couple of yards, and Gerrard, whose right-foot shot drifted just past the upright soon after.
It was all change after the break, and the pick of the substitutes Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon maintained the pressure on the Slovenia goal and the visitors, playing their first senior international against England, began to run out of ideas.
With an hour gone it was a neat combination, square in front of goal, between the two that brought England's second, Defoe slotting home in the corner with the help of a slight deflection.
Another strong run from Lennon on the right and precision pull-back was to give Rooney another great chance, his best of the match, on 71 minutes but his measured effort from five yards was clear of the line by Matej Mavricrozic, with the keeper beaten.
Slovenia's chances were few, but the pick of them followed soon after Rooney's with substitute Pecnik taking a return ball from the left and heading a couple of feet wide of Green's left-hand post.
Kek, like Capello, was positive after the match, though angered by the injury to Cesar.
He said: "England were better but, importantly, our team was very good and the young players showed that they can play at this level." He ended the evening with more options for selection ahead of the qualifier than he began it with. |
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