Harry Kane scored the winner as England sealed their place at next year’s World Cup despite a disappointing performance against Slovenia. Here’s how we rated the London contingent in the 1-0 win at Wembley.
Joe Hart: 7
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Excellent in Slovenia, the on-loan West Ham goalkeeper was at times much less convincing this time around. He was perhaps fortunate not to concede an early penalty when Josip Ilicic went down in the area, and Hart fumbled a second-half header from Bojan Jokic before eventually grabbing the ball at the second attempt. However, he more than atoned with a superb – and crucial – double save late on.
Gary Cahill: 6
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The Chelsea captain was barely tested at the heart of England’s defence. At the other end he almost got on the end of a couple of set-piece deliveries from Marcus Rashford.
Eric Dier: 5
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Solid in midfield but nowhere near creative enough. The Tottenham man’s lifeless partnership with the equally ineffective Jordan Henderson was a major factor in England’s poor display against mediocre opposition.
Harry Kane: 7
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It was frustrating night for the Spurs captain before his injury-time finish clinched the win and continued his brilliant goalscoring form. Starved of service, he had been limited to hopeful long-range efforts, one of which forced a good save, another flew high and wide, and another was deflected wide
He won crucial headers in his own penalty area, one of which led to a counter-attack and a chance for Rashford. It was England’s best opportunity of the match before the goal – a close-range finish after Kane was found by a right-wing cross from his former Tottenham team-mate Kyle Walker.