Practice those penalties: England face Germany again after Sunday lunch

Capello delighted with England performance

Fabio Capello was in buoyant mood after seeing England display the spirit he had demanded to set up a last-16 World Cup showdown against Germany.

Jermain Defoe scored the only goal as England beat Slovenia and with the USA defeating Algeria it means Capello's men, who finished runners-up in Group C, will now face the Germans on Sunday. Now the England manager believes his team can only get better.

Capello said: "I saw the team play with the spirit that we lost in the games we played before this game (against USA and Algeria). The performance was really good and we created a lot of chances to score a second goal."

He added: "This is the spirit that I remember when we played in the qualification games. I am really happy with the performance of the team. We played hard, we attacked the ball and this is important if we want to win."

Capello's one piece of bad news was another injury setback for Wayne Rooney, who suffered a kick on the ankle which he first injured for Manchester United against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Rooney was replaced by Joe Cole after 71 minutes but the England boss is confident he will recover to take his place for the next match.

Capello said: "I substituted Wayne because his ankle was not so good, he has some problems. I have to wait for the doctor but I think it will be okay for the next game on Sunday."

The England manager also made a point of publicly patching up his relationship with former captain John Terry.

He embraced Terry at the final whistle even though the Chelsea defender had questioned his methods at the training camp in Rustenburg and made a thinly-veiled appeal for Joe Cole to be selected.

Capello said of Terry: "He is a leader. I have no problem with the players. I respect the players and they respect me. It was a very important performance from Terry but all the players played really well."

Slovenia 0-1 England - Match report

Jermain Defoe's first-half strike was enough put the Three Lions into the next stage, but Fabio Capello's men finish as Group C runners-up following USA's last-gasp 1-0 triumph over Algeria.

England started the game nervously with Matthew Upson replacing Jamie Carragher in defence and Defoe and James Milner coming into the starting 11 for Emile Heskey and Aaron Lennon.

- As it happened

- United States 1-0 Algeria

Successive fouls by Glen Johnson saw referee Wolfgang Stark have a stern word and it was the dangerous Valter Birsa who forged the first shooting opportunity of the day as he cut in from the right to fire straight at David James.

A number of corners fell England's way, but the inspired Samir Handanovic in the Slovenia goal kept the men in red at bay.

But, in the 23rd minute, Capello's men grabbed the crucial breakthrough. Fine play on the right between Johnson and Milner led to the Aston Villa man sending a mouth-watering ball into the area.

Defoe was on hand to beat his marker and shin the ball at Handanovic. The shot-stopper got two strong hands to the effort, but he could only tip his strike into the roof of the net to send the England faithful wild in the stands.

England were now in the ascendency and another right-wing cross from Milner was palmed to the edge of the box where Frank Lampard fired narrowly over. Johnson's centre then almost found Steven Gerrard at the back post, but the Liverpool man's control let him down.

Then Handanovic kept his side in the contest as he saved from Defoe. The ball ricocheted to Wayne Rooney and his clever pass found Gerrard unmarked, but the England captain's side-footed strike was turned away as a second goal beckoned.

Immediately after the re-start, Rooney's quickly-taken corner almost brought Defoe's second of the day.

His corner was punched away by Handanovic and, as the ball was looped back in, Defoe, with his back to goal, nonchalantly flicked wide from six yards out.

The 1966 World Cup winners began to dominate once more, but the failure to score that elusive second goal allowed Slovenia to grow in hope.

Defoe had a goal disallowed for offside and then John Terry had his header expertly turned behind by Handanovic.

Rooney missed another gilt-edged chance to put the opposition out of sight from the resulting corner.

Lampard hoisted the ball into the area to the unmarked and onside front man, but he could only watch his tame effort bounce off the post after Handanovic made another telling stop.

Sloppy play from Gareth Barry allowed Birsa to break with 20 minutes remaining and, as the ball broke to Milivoje Novakovic, he could only shoot at Terry. Substitute Zlatko Dedic was then cruelly denied by Johnson as England rode their luck.

Joe Cole and Heskey made their way into the action as Capello freshened things up and, with time running out, Upson made a last-ditch diving challenge to deny Dedic.

However, England held firm to seal their place in the last 16 where they will meet Germany on Sunday afternoon.

Player ratings

Football.co.uk passes judgement after England's 1-0 victory against Slovenia booked their passage into the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

David James - 8

Fine performance from the veteran stopper, who dealt with everything thrown at him and looked calmed and collected throughout. Two games, two clean sheets, says it all.

Glen Johnson - 6

Once again Johnson had plenty of the ball, but his final ball was found wanting. Lucky to get away without a booking, having made a host of rash tackles.

John Terry - 9

Commanding performance from the Chelsea skipper, who won everything in the air and gave everything. Terry's passion has never been more evident - he was England's driving force at the heart of defence.

Matthew Upson - 7

Made a vital tackle late on to deny a Slovenian attack and looked every bit an international defender. Worked well in partnership with Terry and should start in the next round.

Ashley Cole - 8

Superb performance from Cole, who rampaged forward at every opportunity and did well in possession. Always an outlet on the left and worked tirelessly.

James Milner - 8

Worked like a dog on the right and set up Defoe's winner with a superb cross. Physically commanding and whole-hearted throughout.

Frank Lampard - 7

Workmanlike, but very effective. Lampard's passing was crisp and he linked well with the players around him

Steven Gerrard - 8

Drove England forward from midfield and played a captain's role in England's victory. Gerrard was dynamic throughout and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with a well-placed shot in the first half.

Gareth Barry - 6

Did what it says on the tin. Good passing, good workrate and performed a vital defensive role at the base of the England midfield.

Jermain Defoe - 8

Great finish for the winner and worked hard throughout to provide England with a vital outlet. Surely justified his selection and should start the next game.

Wayne Rooney - 6

Rooney was still some way from his best, but there were at least glimpses of what's to come. Can only get better.

Subs

Joe Cole - 6

Failed to make a big impression, but did provide an outlet late on as England held on.

Emile Heskey - 6

Little time to make an impression.

(Articles and photos supplied by http://worldcup2010.football.co.uk/)



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