Tottenham forward, Harry Kane, ensured England booked a place for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia with a last-gasp winner against Slovenia on Thursday.
Having been named skipper for the clash, the expectation was the 24-year-old will maintain his impressive run of form at the Wembley Stadium.
Kane had notched six goals in his last three games for Spurs before the international break.
And the prolific forward didn’t disappoint despite a below-par showing from his teammates.
A poor Jan Oblak throw from goal found its way to Kane, who slid in from close range on the end of Kyle Walker’s teasing cross.
Oblak had been largely faultless until his attempt at a quick counter found its way to Walker, a mistake that not only gave England their seventh win in nine qualifiers but ended Slovenia’s slim hopes of making it to Russia.
The result puts Gareth Southgate’s team on 23 points, six more than second-placed Scotland going into their final fixture against Lithuania on Sunday.
The Three Lions may be through to the World Cup, but their decisive moment came about with more of a whimper than a roar, and Southgate’s side need huge improvements if they’re to challenge for silverware in Russia next year.
Already through are Brazil, Japan, Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and host, Russia.
