Perhaps pumping ‘Three Lions’ through the PA system before the game wasn’t the wisest move as England Under-21’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage hinge on a final round against Germany after a 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
Fans from Barnsley, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, London and York descended en masse to the city of Nitra for the second game of England’s Under-21 Euro title defence.
There was a merriment in the stands at the David Baddiel and Frank Skinner classic but those smiles were quickly replaced by expressions of angst as England’s continued experiment without a No 9 came up short of answers and, crucially, goals.
Here was supposed to be a day where England would book safe passage into the quarter-finals with a game to spare. Instead, Lee Carsley finds himself with more questions than answers.
‘We just didn’t have that last, most important bit, to break them down,’ Carsley said.
‘There’s a lot to work on and a game in three days time. It’s quite unforgiving this tournament… but yeah, it’s definitely good for the players because it will bring the group together.’
Harvey Elliott and England were shut out by a Slovenia team that impressed here in Nitra
Lee Carsley’s side go into their final group game against Germany needing a result to progress
Carsley made two changes to the side that opened this title defence against Czech Republic, with Hayden Hackney and Ethan Nwaneri in for Alex Scott and Omari Hutchinson.
But the control which wore the Czechs down was missing here, particularly in the early stages when a bicycle kick from Svit Seslar and a low drive by Tio Cipot – cleared off the line by James Beadle – had England sweating.
For as much as England flattered to deceive for large spells of a thrilling first half they did go back to the dressing rooms having had the best opportunities.
Captain James McAtee should have done better when a ricochet fell to him on the right-side of the box, only for him to drag his shot wide of the far post.
Nwaneri was next to be left wondering at his finishing when brilliant play wide right by Jonathan Rowe saw a ball fizzed across the area, only for Nwaneri to get his feet mixed up to fluff turning into an open net from two yards out.
There was also time for Harvey Elliott to clip the post when Elliot Anderson’s diagonal through ball was met on the volley by the Liverpool forward, who saw his effort brush the post almost in slow motion.
‘It was ridiculous to be honest,’ Elliott said of the 30-degree conditions.
‘I don’t think I’ve played in heat like it! But you can’t complain about these things, it is what it is. I would rather it be really hot today than pouring down with rain.
James McAtee had a few golden opportunities but was denied impressively from close range
Jonathan Rowe again started up front in a false nine role but was largely kept under wraps
Carsley tweaked his side by bringing on a No 9 in Jay Stansfield but it ultimately didn’t pay off
‘It’s another test, another obstacle in the way for us, for the team, and now we got through it we can adapt to it and if we come to this again we have to adapt to play in this heat. We know what we need to do as a team and as individuals to make sure we can go out and perform.’
England tried to catch Slovenia cold soon after the restart and it took a ninja-like reflex save on the line by Martin Turk to stop McAtee scoring from two yards out after Tino Livramento’s cross.
Slovenia dominated the ball in their opening defeat to Germany and Carsley had warned his players against complacency even as they found their groove here.
Nwaneri began to discover a rhythm dribbling and cutting inside as he often loves to do for Arsenal, while substitute Omari Hutchinson looked bright. Both lacked finesse when it came to the final cross or shot, though.
England rallied, throwing on Jay Stansfield, the closest thing this squad has to a No 9, among a host of late substitutions, but it proved in vain.
Too much similarity, too many similar runs and similar ideas in parts of the pitch that didn’t exploit the two Slovenian centre backs, who looked to be the weak link, proved England’s undoing in what felt a pretty flat run to the final whistle.
Slovenia were more than worthy of the point they took here and it will go to the final group game against Germany to see just how much longer England’s Euros title defence will last.
