England qualify for World Cup in Russia
Tottenham's Harry Kane captained England for the first time in his career
Harry Kane's injury-time winner secured England's qualification for next summer's World Cup with victory against Slovenia - but this was a display designed to dampen any sense of expectation.
Kane, England captain for the night, bundled in Kyle Walker's cross for his 11th goal in 22 international appearances to finally break down Slovenia's resistance as they looked likely to hold out for a point.
It meant manager Gareth Southgate can now start planning in earnest for Russia but could not cover up the cracks in an England performance that was lifeless, uninspired and mediocre.
Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling almost broke the deadlock before Kane made his breakthrough, the hosts were also grateful to much-criticised keeper Joe Hart for some crucial interventions.
England and Southgate have achieved their goal. It was not, however, achieved in a manner that will start alarm bells ringing for any future World Cup opposition.
Elsewhere in the group, Scotland kept their qualifying hopes alive in dramatic fashion as a late Martin Skrtel own goal gave them victory over 10-man Slovakia at Hampden Park.
What are Southgate's big challenges?Relive all the action and reaction from Wembley and Hampden Park, plus Northern Ireland's defeat by GermanyScotland earn dramatic win to keep hopes alive England top Group F by six points from second-placed Scotland with one match leftEngland through but no celebrations
England's qualification for Russia was confirmed by that late strike from Kane but Wembley was hardly awash with joyous scenes at the final whistle.
And that was because, for the large part, this was a desperately poor England performance as they struggled to find a way through a well-drilled Slovenia.
England's poor performance drew mockery and sarcasm from some sections of a dissatisfied Wembley crowd, clearly unimpressed by what they were witnessing.
Southgate said he was aware of the crowd's discontent and the unhappy mood of England's supporters meant there was an absence of the air of celebration that normally accompanies World Cup qualification.
The scale of the excitement - or lack of it - on offer was illustrated by the fact many England's fans spent most of the second half amusing themselves by hurling paper aeroplanes at each other.
It was also an atmosphere tempered by the reality of England's current standing apart from the elite of the international game.
England carry a forward threat in the shape of Kane and Rashford, who will be supplemented by Dele Alli when he is free from suspension, but the glaring lack of creativity elsewhere - especially in central midfield - must represent a real concern for Southgate.
Southgate has achieved phase one of the task presented to him when he succeeded Sam Allardyce, but on this evidence England will not travel to Russia accompanied by any serious weight of expectation.
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England, as usual, have come through qualifying in relative comfort - but they have made very heavy weather of completing the job at some stages of this campaign.
The 4-0 victory margin in Malta was hugely flattering - helped by three goals in the closing minutes against exhausted opponents - and England came from behind to beat Slovakia at Wembley.
And this was a dreadful, lifeless slog that confirmed England's strictly 'B-list' status in international football's pecking order.
The team must make a huge leap from the workmanlike and largely uninspired efforts of this campaign if they are to make even a single bead of sweat break out on the brows of any potential opponents in Russia.
And those countries who travel with serious hope of winning the World Cup will certainly have no fears should they be confronted by this England side.
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Southgate's selection of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Alli's absence was a real show of faith in Liverpool's £35m signing from Arsenal - and totally at odds with his poor form this season.
Sadly for Oxlade-Chamberlain, he was unable to repay England's manager and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Jesse Lingard after 64 minutes.
There was no shortage of effort from the 24-year-old but he looked a player short on confidence and self-belief, still battling to come anywhere near fulfilling the promise he showed after he burst on the England scene as a teenager.
Southgate clearly has great belief in the midfielder, also starting him in the recent qualifiers in Malta and at home to Slovakia - but his struggles have been reflected in his failure to complete both of those games, as well as this meeting with Slovenia.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is now reaching a pivotal stage of his career where he has to start delivering for club and country. He showed no signs of making that transition at Wembley on Thursday.
Man of the match - Harry Kane (England) Kane provided the telling moment of quality for Southgate's side. While the match will be largely forgettable, Kane's goal will be a memorable moment for the striker personally having skippered England for the first time.'We are not going to become Spain' - what they said
England manager Gareth Southgate, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "As a young team and having to deal with the expectation and criticism of their performances, it is tough for them.
"They are giving everything they've got. They don't have Champions League winning medals between them. We have to give them the belief and the backing to help them achieve.
"It's not a relief, I always thought we'd achieve the objective [of qualifying]. Tonight highlighted where we are. We are not going to become Spain in the next eight months."
Former England and Manchester United defender Phil Neville, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "England limped to qualification for the World Cup. The real work begins now.
"We will learn more when England play Germany and Brazil in friendlies in November than these types of game. There was not enough end product from players."
My England starting XI
Gareth Southgate's England have booked their place at the World Cup in 2018. Choose who you would pick in their starting XI in Russia - and then share it with your friends using our team selector.
Select FormationConfirm TeamLine-upsMatch StatsLive TextLine-upsEngland1Hart2Walker6StonesBooked at 44mins5Cahill3Bertrand8Henderson4Dier11Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forLingardat 64'minutes7SterlingSubstituted forKeaneat 85'minutes10Rashford9KaneSubstitutes12Smalling13Butland14Trippier15Maguire16Keane17Cresswell18Defoe19Livermore20Sturridge21Winks22Lingard23PickfordSlovenia1Oblak23StrunaBooked at 86mins17MevljaBooked at 45mins5Cesar13Jokic14BezjakSubstituted forRepasat 72'minutes6KrhinBooked at 38mins18RotmanBooked at 51minsSubstituted forMatavzat 79'minutes21Verbic7Ilicic11SporarSubstituted forBirsaat 55'minutesBooked at 90minsSubstitutes2Skubic3Viler4Sirok8Kurtic9Matavz10Birsa12Belec15Mlinar Delamea16Koprivec19Repas20Bohar22VetrihReferee:Felix ZwayerMatch StatsHome TeamEnglandAway TeamSloveniaPossessionHome67%Away33%ShotsHome17Away5Shots on TargetHome5Away1CornersHome10Away4FoulsHome11Away17Live TextPosted at
Match ends, England 1, Slovenia 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+9'
Second Half ends, England 1, Slovenia 0.
Posted at 90'+8'
Foul by Jesse Lingard (England).
Posted at 90'+8'
Rene Krhin (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 90'+6'
Valter Birsa (Slovenia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+6'
Jordan Henderson (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+6'
Foul by Valter Birsa (Slovenia).
Posted at 90'+6'
Attempt blocked. Tim Matavz (Slovenia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josip Ilicic.
Goal!Posted at 90'+4'
Goal! England 1, Slovenia 0. Harry Kane (England) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Walker with a cross.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt saved. Kyle Walker (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Posted at 90'+2'
Ryan Bertrand (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Tim Matavz (Slovenia).
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (England) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Hart.
Posted at 90'+1'
Offside, Slovenia. Josip Ilicic tries a through ball, but Tim Matavz is caught offside.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Gary Cahill (England).
Posted at 90'
Josip Ilicic (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 89'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 88'
Delay in match (England).
Posted at 87'
Attempt missed. Benjamin Verbic (Slovenia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Valter Birsa.
BookingPosted at 86'
Aljaz Struna (Slovenia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 86'
Jesse Lingard (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Aljaz Struna (Slovenia).
SubstitutionPosted at 85'
Substitution, England. Michael Keane replaces Raheem Sterling.
Posted at 84'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 84'
Delay in match Joe Hart (England) because of an injury.
Posted at 84'
Joe Hart (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Tim Matavz (Slovenia).
Posted at 83'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 82'
Delay in match Joe Hart (England) because of an injury.
Posted at 81'
Foul by Gary Cahill (England).
Posted at 81'
Josip Ilicic (Slovenia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 81'
Offside, England. Gary Cahill tries a through ball, but Jesse Lingard is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Slovenia. Tim Matavz replaces Rajko Rotman.
Posted at 75'
Offside, Slovenia. Bojan Jokic tries a through ball, but Benjamin Verbic is caught offside.
Posted at 73'
Foul by John Stones (England).
Posted at 73'
Bostjan Cesar (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 72'
Corner, England. Conceded by Miha Mevlja.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Slovenia. Jan Repas replaces Roman Bezjak.
Posted at 71'
Marcus Rashford (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Source: bbc.com
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