England / Maxliu / 23 June 2010 / 7 Comments Free £25 Bet

Max Liu is blogging on England's Group C crunch match against Slovenia. With two points from two games, Fabio Capello's men are on the verge of exiting the tournament - will they rally to reach the last 16 or will this go down as the worst Three Lions' World Cup performance for over 50 years? Follow the action here for up to date odds and join in by leaving your comments...

17:00 - England trade at [12.0] in Betfair's World Cup Winner market. See you on Sunday...

16:55 - We'll have to wait until this evening to see who opponents will be on Sunday in the last 16. Could be Germany, Serbia or Ghana. For now, some Betfats:

- England were backed at a high of [1.65] to win today's match
- Slovenia werer backed to qualify from Group C at [1.04] but were denied by injury time US goal in group's other game
- England were backed at [1.12] to win the group but finish as runners-up
- Over 1.5 goals backed at [1.14]

16:49 - It's confirmed. England qualify as runners-up. They are ecstatic, embracing on the pitch as though they've won the tournament. They haven't - they' ve beaten Slovenia 1-0 - but it was an impressive performance. They played with conviction, at pace, and Rooney, Gerrard and Milner linked well.

16:47 - Game over. England win 1-0. But the news comes through - USA have scored against Algeria. It looks as though USA are going through to the last 16 as Group Winners and Slovenia are out. This would mean that, if Germany win their group, England will play them on Sunday night.

16:46 - 3 minutes of added time.

16:45 - Awesome saving tackle from Upson. He should retain his place for that alone.

16:43 - Capello is urging his players out of their penalty box. He's going crazy. Guy Mowabray points out that we didn't see Sven Goran Eriksson showing such passion in Germany. No, Guy, because he didn't have to; we had already qualified by winning our first two games. They are clinging on. Against Slovenia.

16:42 - Breather for England as they win a corner. Gerrard floats ball into keepers' hands. As it stands England are going through as group winners with Slovenia as runners-up. But a goal would change everything.

16:40 - Heskey is coming on for Defoe. Slovenia take a corner. The full back blasts a shot sky high from 25 yards out.

16:39 - England are conceding free-kicks. First Milner, then Cole.

16:37 - Eight minutes to go. Capello is bellowing from the touchline but England look fatigued. Quick question - is it ok to refer to players by their Christian names while playing for England? I ask because I can hear a Chelsea fan urging on, "Frank" and "Joe" and "John."

16:35 - Zlatko Dedic booked for challenge on Lampard.

16:33 - England look a little ineffective without Rooney. Slovenia have brought on 21-year-old strike Tim Matavz. It's 0-0 in USA v Algeria btw.

16:30 - Fans are singing the national anthem. They've been terrifc today.

16:26 - Rooney won't score. He's coming off for Joe Cole. Fabulous contribution from the Manchester United striker.

16:25 - He may not have scored today (he might yet) but Rooney is playing superbly. If he scores, he's man of the match.

16:24 - Milner beats Jokic twice before floating cross in. Handanovic claims.

16:22 - Barry gives ball away. Slovenia break. They have three chances, Terry and Johnson block shots before the third is fired wide. Frightening.

16:21 - Rooney is limping.

16:17 - Jokic, who already has a yellow, brings down Milner. He is walking a tightrope and it's all down to Milner skill. Gerrard whips free-kick in and England have a corner. Slovenia are a shambles at the back now.

16:15 - England are dominating and a second goal feels imminent. But we need to find the final touch (obviously).

16:11 - Rooney hits post. He's like Messi last night - on fire but unable to score. Their time will come...

16:10 - Handanovic saves Terry's far post header point blank range. He's keeping his side in it.

16:09 - Another free-kick to Slovenia which James gathers.

16:08 - Rooney and Gerrard link well but take too long; chance foiled.

16:07 - Radosavljevic goes down. Soft free-kick. Ball whipped in. James holds. The danger is still there. As my colleague has pointed out, James has looked very solid so far. But can he hold out for 90 minutes? The draw looks long at [10.0].

16:06 - James gathers dipping shot. Just a reminder that one goal would change everything.

16:04 - England goal disallowed. Rooney and Defoe were a yard offside but this is still an encouraging start to the second half.

16:02 - England thought they had a free-kick on the edge of the Slovenia penalty area. Instead, Glen Johnson is booked for diving. The referee got that wrong. And now I've told him so.

16:00 - Second-half kicks off. Teams unchanged... Should have been 2-0. Defoe had chance from close range.

15:45 - Half-time. Slovenia 0 - 1 England. Match odds: England [1.13], Slovenia [48.0], the draw [10.0].

15:44 - Defoe is down after elbow from Cesar. No free-kick though and Defoe is up.

15:41 - James punches Slovenian free-kick. For a moment hearts are in mouths but England are awarded a free-kick.

15:39 - Lampard gives the ball away in midfield but Terry rescues him. Slovenia right back Jokic is booked for bringing down Johnson. Good news for Milner, who can terrorise him even more.

15:35 - Another tantalising cross from Milner. Corner to England. Slovenia clear.

15:34 - Cole concedes free-kick in a dangerous position. But it's cleared.

15:29 - Handanovic keeps Slovenia in it with two saves. Gerrard could have scored but opted to sidefoot it into the net from 10 yards out but the keeper saved. Just.

15:28 - England are dominating possession. Milner and Johnson are providing excellent deliveries from the right.

15:26 - Another great cross from Milner. Defoe's shot is saved. Lampard blazes the rebound over.

15:23 - England have come in to [1.16] with Slovenia out to [44.0]. Draw is [8.8]. As it stands, England lead Group C.

15:22 - GOAL! Superb cross from Milner and Defoe volleys in from six yards out. England have the breakthrough. 1-0.

15:19 - Johnson shoots from distance - decent effot - Handanovic gathers. Slovenia break and it takes a last ditch block from Terry to prevent a goalscoring chance.

15:18 - Rooney's shot deflected for a corner. Terry heads wide from Gerrard's corner. England are awarded another corner. Slovenia look vulnerable from set pieces.

15:15 - Decent move fmo England. Lampard fails to get on the end of Cole's pass. Cole is playing well.

15:14 - England shot on target. Swerving Lampard free-kick from 25 yards out. Held by Handanovic.

15:13 - England give ball back to Slovenia after they put it out for an injured player. Except by the time the ball went out of play the player was back on his feet. Why?

15:10 - England have started with a flat midfield four. They are not, Mike, playing a diamond. But thanks for letting us know that the Three Lions once played in all red in a 3-1 win over Belgium in 1970.

15:09 - Ashley Cole concedes throw in threatening area. England clear but Slovenia attack again and Barry is lucky not to be booked for tackle from behind on Radosavljevic. Slovenia look good, especially down the flanks. But Johnson plays great ball out to Rooney. He crosses. Slovenia concede corner. Gerrard's corner cleared.

15:07 - Smart move from Slovenia. James saves, launches England attack. Milner's cross blocked.

15:06 - Bad ball from Terry to Upson nearly put Slovenia in. Worrying.

15:04 - The pitch does not look good. Which should suit England.

15:02: Milner's cross is cleared. England continue to press down the right until Johnson concedes a free-kick.

15:01 - Actually, Gerrard's on the left, Milner on the right. Perhaps they will switch. Nervy start from Glen Johnson, who miskicks...

15:00 - Match odds at kick-off: England [1.46], Slovenia [9.6], draw [4.7]

14:58 - Gerrard starts on the right with Milner on the left

14:56 - God Save the Queen...

14:54 - The Slovenian national anthem...

14:53 - England are wearing all red. Has this ever happened before?

14:50 - On the BBC, Alan Hansen, Lee Dixon and Alan Shearer are unanimous - England will win. In other news, Sir Alex Ferguson has phoned Wayne Rooney and told him to relax...

14:45 - Here's the Slovenia line-up

S Handanovic
Brecko
Suler
Cesar
Jokic
Koren (captain)
Kirm
Radosavljevic
Ljubijankic
Birsa
Novakovic

14:35 - Gabby Logan is interviewing David James. She reminds him of England's two disappointing draws in 1990. This, and the prevalence of Italia '90 shirts, makes me wish we could stop living in the past. You never know, it might help...

13:25 - The England team has been announced:

David James
Glen Johnson
Matthew Upson
John Terry
Ashley Cole
James Milner
Frank Lampard
Gareth Barry
Steven Gerrard
Jermain Defoe
Wayne Rooney

So there it is... Capello's faith in 4-4-2 remains unshakeable. Largely consigned to history with terracing, short shorts and bovril, the England manager believes that this is the formation to get us through to the last 16. I hope he's right but it's disappointing to see Gerrard stuck out on the left again. Arguably the most complete English midfielder since Bobby Charlton and he's asked to play out wide...

Anyway, grumble over. Current match odds: England [1.45], Slovenia [9.6], the draw [4.8].

I'm off for my pre-match olives... Back about 14:30...

13:20 - Fabio Capello's player's will need to put aside their gripes and put on a united front if they are to overcome Slovenia. As Dave Farrar points out in his match preview, the Group C leaders have looked a better team than England thus far. Fact.

Tags: Fabio Capello, football betting, Gareth Barry, John Terry, Slovenia v England, Steve Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, World Cup betting