England 0-0 Slovakia: Stalemate leaves England second

 

The Three Lions failed to get the win they needed to top Group B and instead finished second. England may have won the battle, but they lost the war. They defeated Wales 2-1 on Thursday but a 0-0 draw with Slovakia, coupled with their neighbors' 3-0 demolition of Russia, meant Chris Coleman's team top Group B with the Three Lions second.

Their inability to win their games with Russia and Slovakia should prove costly for England. They are plunged into a tougher tie in the round of 16, potentially against Portugal. Should they progress then, their probable quarterfinal opponents are France. They may have got out of Group B, but the chances of a first semi-final appearance in 20 years have taken a big hit.

They may rue their failure to capitalize on their dominant displays against both eastern European teams. The probability, however, is that Roy Hodgson will be criticized for making six changes against Slovakia when the group remained undecided.

Having begun by resting Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli, Hodgson brought both on by the hour mark -- an admission of failure or a way of injecting quality for the final stages? Whichever, Alli almost scored with his first touch, a shot from Jordan Henderson's cross, which necessitated a goal line clearance from Martin Skrtel. It was the closest England came.

After using all five of the strikers in his squad against Wales, Hodgson deployed four this time. And, unlike in Thursday's game, Rooney took up an attacking beat. England were as urgent as they had been against Wales but, after injury-time goals in their previous two games, there was no hat trick.

But there is an unwanted common denominator. England have been the aggressor for much of their three group games, yet opposition goalkeepers have rarely been required to excel. They have not been rattling the woodwork or denied a host of penalties. They have not turned superiority into opportunities.

And Slovakia defended doggedly. Perhaps there was an irony in Skrtel, so wretched so often in the Premier League for Liverpool, being the man who denied England victory, but he and his colleagues preserved the clean sheet. As the third-place team, in theory they have to wait before qualification is ratified. In reality, with four points and an even goal difference, they can prepare for a Round of 16 tie