Euro 2016 qualifier: England vs Slovenia match preview

A look head to Saturday’s Euro 2016 Qualifier at Wembley

Samuel Price
Friday 14 November 2014 15:47 GMT
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England's Wayne Rooney (L) races Jack Wilshere during a training session at the St George's Park training complex near Burton-upon-Trent, central England
England's Wayne Rooney (L) races Jack Wilshere during a training session at the St George's Park training complex near Burton-upon-Trent, central England

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Wayne Rooney is expected to become only the ninth man to represent England 100 times as the Three Lions host Slovenia at Wembley.

The 29-year-old captain also has the chance to push towards becoming the nation’s leading goalscorer; his current tally of 43 has him fourth on this list, but he needs only one goal to move joint third with Jimmy Greaves.

As a team, England are looking to continue their fine form since crashing out of the World Cup earlier this year and cement their place as the frontrunners in Group E. In the five fixtures to have followed the loss to Uruguay in Sao Paulo, the hosts have not conceded and have only failed to win once in a draw with Costa Rica.

Standing in their way are second-placed Slovenia, who could erase the three-point lead England are currently enjoying over the rest of the group with a win. The visitors started their qualifying campaign with a loss to Estonia, but won both fixtures in October, including a late win over Switzerland.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 5pm

Past TWO Meetings…

Slovenia 0 England 1 (Defoe), World Cup Finals, June 2010

England 2 (Lampard, Defoe) Slovenia 1 (Ljubijankic), Friendly, September 2009

Stats…

England’s current FIFA World Ranking (20) is their lowest since June 1996 (24)

England are one of only three teams (also Croatia and Iceland) yet to concede in Euro 2016 quals

35-year-old Milivoje Novakovič is Slovenia’s player to watch, having scored all three of their goals

Dalibor Stevanović has been booked in all three group games so far

A win would be England’s fifth in a row, their longest streak since 2008 (September – November)

A clean sheet would be England’s sixth in a row, best streak since 2006 (June – October)

Odds…

England to win: 1.33

Slovenia to win: 13.0

Draw: 5.0

Classic Match…

The last meeting between these two sides was a winner-takes-all World Cup group match to secure a place in the quarter-finals. A first-half strike from Jermaine Defoe sent Slovenia home and England through, where unfortunately, Germany were waiting.

TV: Live on ITV1 at 5pm, highlights on ITV1 at 11.10pm​

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