Slovakia 0-0 England: EURO 2016 Group B Report

England finished runners-up to Wales in Group B after they were held to a disappointing goalless draw against Slovakia in Saint-Etienne.

The Three Lions again dominated the play and had their chances, but they couldn’t find the goal they needed and will now face the second-placed side in Group F, which will be decided on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Slovakia will be hopeful that they will qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams after picking up registering four points.

Roy Hodgson decided to make six changes to the side that beat Wales 2-1 in Lens last Thursday, with Ryan Bertrand, Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy coming in for Danny Rose, Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney, Dele Alli and Harry Kane.

Meanwhile, Slovakia went with the same team that beat Russia 2-1, with Vladimir Weiss and Marek Hamsik, the goalscorers in that clash, both starting.

England knew that they would finish top of the group with a win and their first effort came in the sixth minute when Clyne broke down the right before crossing to Vardy, who diverted an effort goalwards with his knee, but the ball flew just over the bar.

The Three Lions were continuing to threaten down the right-hand side and this time a Wilshere cross came in to Vardy, but he couldn’t quite find Sturridge in the middle with his flick on.

Another player that came into Hodgson’s starting line-up, Henderson, then saw his effort blocked away for a corner, before Vardy had a golden chance to give England the lead when he broke away from Martin Skrtel and into the area, but could only send his shot straight at Matus Kozacik.

Clyne was proving to be a constant threat down the right and in the 33rd minute, the Liverpool full-back again did well to find Adam Lallana with a cut-back, but his club team-mate could only send his fierce effort at Kozacik, who parried the ball away for a corner.

There was another opportunity just before the break, but Bertrand’s ball into the box was met by a volley from Henderson, which was again blocked as it flew towards the Slovakian goal.

Eight minutes after half-time, England went close to going behind following a mix-up between Chris Smalling and Joe Hart, with the former sending a chested back-pass towards the goalkeeper, which was nearly intercepted by Robert Mak.

England went straight up the other end and nearly scored a goal of their own and it was that man Clyne again, who broke into the Slovakia area before firing in a shot from a narrow angle that was pushed over the bar by Kozacik.

Slovakia had another chance two minutes later through former Manchester City forward Vladimir Weiss, whose low shot went straight at Joe Hart.

Rooney and Alli came on for Wilshere and Lallana and the Tottenham man nearly made an instant impact, with Henderson’s cross to the back post finding the 20-year-old, but his goal-bound volley was hooked over his own crossbar by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel for a corner.

In the 74th minute, Sturridge had a golden opportunity to give England the lead, but he couldn’t make any contact with Eric Dier’s ball into the box.

Slovakia continued to defend with 10 men behind the ball as they looked to take a point, and England failed to make the breakthrough, meaning they finished runners-up to Chris Coleman’s Wales.

Man of the Match: Nathaniel Clyne (England)

The Liverpool right-back came into the side in place of Kyle Walker and was a constant attacking threat down the right-hand side, producing a number of crosses and cut-backs, as well as going close to opening the scoring when his effort was well saved by Kozacik in the Slovakia goal after the full-back had broken into the penalty area.

What’s Next?

England will face the runners-up in Group F (Portugal, Hungary, Austria or Iceland) next Monday night in Nice, while Slovakia will have to wait and see if they are one of the four best third-placed side after the next two nights of fixtures.