with a 94th-minute strike
England captain Harry Kane scored a late winner as
Gareth Southgate's side beat Slovenia 1-0 at
Wembley to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a
game to spare.
England only needed two points from their final two
matches - with a trip to Lithuania to come on
Sunday - but took all three thanks to Kane's 94th-
minute intervention.
The result means England have not lost in their last
20 World Cup qualifiers - a run that stretches back
eight years - and they have topped their World Cup
qualification group for the sixth time in succession.
Kane captained England against Slovenia
Southgate's side, 13th in the FIFA rankings and 38
places above opponents Slovenia, dominated
possession but struggled to create and ceded the
first opportunity to the visitors, with Josip Ilicic's
penalty appeal turned down after contact was made
by Joe Hart.
The talented Slovenian forward then teed up Roman
Bezjak, who miscued his finish on the volley as the
away team threatened to cause the upset they
required to keep their own World Cup hopes alive.
Player ratings
England: Hart (6), Walker (6), Stones (6), Cahill (6),
Bertrand (6), Henderson (5), Dier (5), Oxlade-
Chamberlain (5), Sterling (5), Rashford (7), Kane (7)
Subs: Lingard (6), Keane (6)
Slovenia: Oblak (7), Struna (6), Mevlja (6), Cesar (6),
Jokic (6), Bezjak (6), Krhin (5), Rotman (6), Verbic (6),
Ilicic (7), Sporar (6)
Subs: Birsa (6), Matavz (6), Repas (6)
Man of the match: Harry Kane
England's best chance of the first half fell to Jordan
Henderson but Atletico Madrid 'keeper Jan Oblak
got down well to keep out the midfielder's low
effort.
The Slovenia stopper was beaten just after the hour
mark but Marcus Rashford's tame chip was cleared
by Miha Mevlja.
Team news
Gareth Southgate made two changes from the 2-1 win
over Slovakia in September as John Stones replaced
the injured Phil Jones and Raheem Sterling came in for
the suspended Dele Alli.
The close call energised a previously lethargic
England and they went close again when a
remarkable double block by Slovenia captain
Bostjan Cesar denied Raheem Sterling.
Kane then dragged an effort wide before smart
goalkeeping by Hart prevented substitute Tim
Matavz from putting the visitors ahead on the
counter.
And Tottenham forward Kane, auditioning for the
captaincy on a regular basis, did his chances of
keeping the armband no harm with a clinical low
finish from Kyle Walker's delivery in stoppage time
to ensure England will be in Russia next year.
The managers
Gareth Southgate: "We would have liked to have
played more fluidly and scored more goals. We
played a team that made it really difficult to create
chances.
"We are having to find a way of winning by being a
bit more savvy because we are not flowing with the
ball. But we do have goalscorers."
Srecko Katanec: "Congratulations to England, they
maybe not deserved this victory but they scored a
goal.
"I wish them luck at the World Cup. My players
deserve congratulations as well, they played a
decent game and can be proud."
Man of the match - Harry Kane
Kane's superb September form is continuing into
October.
He was some way short of his best at Wembley -
like most of his team-mates - but still popped up to
decide the match with a sharp run and tidy finish by
the impressive Slovenia goalkeeper Oblak.
The calls to give him the captain's armband on a
permanent basis will only grow ahead of next year's
tournament.
What next?
England conclude their qualifying campaign away to
Lithuania on Sunday and with their place at the
World Cup already secure, Southgate may opt to
experiment.
Meanwhile, Slovenia host Scotland in what will be a
crunch final qualifier with a play-off place on the line.
with a 94th-minute strike
England captain Harry Kane scored a late winner as
Gareth Southgate's side beat Slovenia 1-0 at
Wembley to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a
game to spare.
England only needed two points from their final two
matches - with a trip to Lithuania to come on
Sunday - but took all three thanks to Kane's 94th-
minute intervention.
The result means England have not lost in their last
20 World Cup qualifiers - a run that stretches back
eight years - and they have topped their World Cup
qualification group for the sixth time in succession.
Kane captained England against Slovenia
Southgate's side, 13th in the FIFA rankings and 38
places above opponents Slovenia, dominated
possession but struggled to create and ceded the
first opportunity to the visitors, with Josip Ilicic's
penalty appeal turned down after contact was made
by Joe Hart.
The talented Slovenian forward then teed up Roman
Bezjak, who miscued his finish on the volley as the
away team threatened to cause the upset they
required to keep their own World Cup hopes alive.
Player ratings
England: Hart (6), Walker (6), Stones (6), Cahill (6),
Bertrand (6), Henderson (5), Dier (5), Oxlade-
Chamberlain (5), Sterling (5), Rashford (7), Kane (7)
Subs: Lingard (6), Keane (6)
Slovenia: Oblak (7), Struna (6), Mevlja (6), Cesar (6),
Jokic (6), Bezjak (6), Krhin (5), Rotman (6), Verbic (6),
Ilicic (7), Sporar (6)
Subs: Birsa (6), Matavz (6), Repas (6)
Man of the match: Harry Kane
England's best chance of the first half fell to Jordan
Henderson but Atletico Madrid 'keeper Jan Oblak
got down well to keep out the midfielder's low
effort.
The Slovenia stopper was beaten just after the hour
mark but Marcus Rashford's tame chip was cleared
by Miha Mevlja.
Team news
Gareth Southgate made two changes from the 2-1 win
over Slovakia in September as John Stones replaced
the injured Phil Jones and Raheem Sterling came in for
the suspended Dele Alli.
The close call energised a previously lethargic
England and they went close again when a
remarkable double block by Slovenia captain
Bostjan Cesar denied Raheem Sterling.
Kane then dragged an effort wide before smart
goalkeeping by Hart prevented substitute Tim
Matavz from putting the visitors ahead on the
counter.
And Tottenham forward Kane, auditioning for the
captaincy on a regular basis, did his chances of
keeping the armband no harm with a clinical low
finish from Kyle Walker's delivery in stoppage time
to ensure England will be in Russia next year.
The managers
Gareth Southgate: "We would have liked to have
played more fluidly and scored more goals. We
played a team that made it really difficult to create
chances.
"We are having to find a way of winning by being a
bit more savvy because we are not flowing with the
ball. But we do have goalscorers."
Srecko Katanec: "Congratulations to England, they
maybe not deserved this victory but they scored a
goal.
"I wish them luck at the World Cup. My players
deserve congratulations as well, they played a
decent game and can be proud."
Man of the match - Harry Kane
Kane's superb September form is continuing into
October.
He was some way short of his best at Wembley -
like most of his team-mates - but still popped up to
decide the match with a sharp run and tidy finish by
the impressive Slovenia goalkeeper Oblak.
The calls to give him the captain's armband on a
permanent basis will only grow ahead of next year's
tournament.
What next?
England conclude their qualifying campaign away to
Lithuania on Sunday and with their place at the
World Cup already secure, Southgate may opt to
experiment.
Meanwhile, Slovenia host Scotland in what will be a
crunch final qualifier with a play-off place on the line.
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