England 0-0 Slovenia: LIVE World Cup qualifying news, scores and tables from Wembley

England vs Slovenia: Express Sport brings you LIVE World Cup qualifier scores, news and updates from Wembley

89: Wheyyyyyyy! We’ve got a pitch-invader, who’s got the biggest cheer of the night. It takes a minute or so for the fella to be caught.

88: Verbic dances around a few tackles but skews his shot 15-miles wide of the post.

88: There’s the ambition I’ve been waiting for. Michael Keane comes on for Raheem Sterling…

86: Wow! Joe Hart to the rescue! Matavz races clean through but Hart is down quickly to clear the danger. The rebound fell to a Slovenian player, but the referee awarded England the free-kick for absolutely no reason. Thanks!

85: The attendance has been confirmed. A poor 61,598 people have been subjected to this. But as things stand, England are still on to qualify providing Scotland and Slovakia remains 0-0.

82: Kane threads a pass into the onrushing Lingard but Oblak is off his line quickly to collect. As you were.

80: Raheem Sterling does about three stopovers before knocking the ball straight out of play. Top stuff. We’re at the stage where I’ll have a cardiac arrest if there’s a goal scored tonight.

77: Ilicic almost gets the better of John Stones, who recovers from a standing start to hoof it clear. That mini-England revival sure petered out quickly…

74: John Stones is involved with a bit of pushing and shoving. Nothing much in it, but a valuable few seconds have indeed been wasted.

71: England have finally changed gears. Sterling’s blocked shot rebounds to Harry Kane, who whips it inches wide of the post.

69: Paper planes flying around Wembley as supporters begin to lose their minds with boredom. But wait, we’ve had a golden opportunity!

Bertrand’s cross falls straight to the feet of Raheem Sterling, whose first-time strike is blocked by Cesar. Great defending because that shot was heading into the bottom corner.

67: This England game is mainly notable for flushing out how many people on Twitter have absolutely nothing to do on a Thursday night.

66: England turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye. Harry Kane clears a corner and Marcus Rashford drives upfield. Oblak rushes off his line to close down the angle, and Rashford produces a very weak lob that Mevlja clears.

Gareth Southgate makes his first change with the anonymous Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming off for Jesse Lingard.

63: Walker passes the ball straight to Verbic, who can’t find Ilicic lurking in the area. If Slovenia had more clinical players, we’d be in trouble. In other news, Harry Kane failed to control a first-time cross from Jordan Henderson and the ball runs out of play.

60: Anyone seen any good box-sets recently? I’ve just started something called Tin Star. Bit gruesome but really worth a watch. You might think I’m exaggerating about how poor this game is, but it really is the most uneventful game I’ve ever seen.

57: Few people on Twitter saying that England vs Slovakia could put a glass eye to sleep. Hard to argue really.

55: OK, we’re now at walking pace. I didn’t think things could get worse but I’m seriously considering smashing the fire alarm so I can exit the building…

52: Marcus Rashford reaches the byline after a decent solo run, but there’s plenty of bodies in the way to block his cross.

48: Gareth Southgate looks to have shuffled things around with Marcus Rashford now in the No.10 role with Raheem Sterling on the left flank. Joe Hart juggles a back post header from left-back Jokic, who caught Oxlade-Chamberlain sleeping.

45: We’re back underway. No changes at the break. Hopefully something will happen soon to prevent me from slipping into a coma.

HT: Updates from our reporter Matt Dunn, at Wembley.

Dreary, dreary me. The late flourish probably saved England from a few boos at half time but the second half has got to be better.

Rashford looks up for it and Kane just needs to get the ball, but England are plodding and obvious in their build-up and seem as witless now about how to break down a 4-4-2 as they were against Iceland in 2016.

Southgate will rest a few players for Lithuania if the flight to Russia is booked – he might want to remind his first teamers that Vilnius is a 2,600 mile round trip and it will be five degrees there on Sunday night.

Maybe that will inject a bit of heat into tonight.

HT: Updates from our reporter Matt Dunn, at Wembley.

If Gareth Southgate needs to motivate his side, he should point out that Lithuania is a 2,600 mile round trip and it will be 5 degrees in Vilnius Sunday.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Jack: I’ve said it before ill say it again the national team are painfully difficult to watch. 

Craig: To slow, to static, and not sharp enough. Get picked apart by the big boys in the manly tournaments again.

Coby: If Jordan Henderson isn’t the worst player on the pitch then can someone tell me who is, brings absolutely nothing to the team.

HT: The less said about that half the better. Let’s check in with Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Michael O’Neill’s side are currently 2-0 down to Germany at the break. Goals from Sebastian Rudy and Sandro Wagner made the difference.

Meanwhile in Scotland it’s 0-0, but Gordon Strachan’s side have a major advantage as Robert Mak has been dismissed. The forward picked up a second yellow for the most blatant dive you’ll see this season.

ENGLAND 0-0 SLOVENIA

46: Mevlja joins John Stones in the referee’s notebook for a foul on Marcus Rashford, who’s been the only highlight in this abysmal half. The youngster whips the delivery in himself… save! Rashford tried to sneak it into the near post but Oblak managed to claw it away.

44: I don’t know how much injury time we’re having, but I won’t be disappointed if it’s a big fat zero… John Stones booked for a late challenge.

43: The ball is in the back of the net, but referee Felix Zwayer penalises Raheem Sterling for a push inside the area as Dier nodded it home from a corner. Didn’t look like much of a push to me.

41: Bless him. The trumpet player is trying to build some excitement but people have been reduced to chatting among themselves for entertainment. This is so incredibly dull that I’m struggling to type.

38: Right… anyone got any ideas on why Kyle Walker has become our free-kick taker?! Despite Kane and Rashford being on the pitch, Walker blasts a set-piece over from 25-yards out.

36: I’ve been whinging about this loads lately. I really can’t understand why teams insist on playing two holding midfielders against defensively-minded opposition. More creative bodies needed to break through the wall of defenders.

35: Bezjak catches Walker with a late challenge. The full-back hobbles for a bit but is moving well again now.

33: Not sure Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have proved the doubters wrong. The City winger is making tons of runs to nowhere, and I only just realised Ox was playing.

30: Great play from Marcus Rashford to win a free-kick a few yards inside the left touchline. It’s played short to Jordan Henderson, who forces a great save from Oblak down to his left.

28: Analysis from our reporter Matt Dunn, at Wembley.

Halfway through the first half and England’s promising start has completely petered out. There is no point have that much pace and – in the form of Kane – punch up front if Dier and Henderson cannot get the ball to them. Too often they are going backwards.

And Slovenia need little encouragement to head in that direction. England must use the huge let-off from Roman Bezjak as a wake-up call.

25: Here comes Raheem Sterling through the middle… and there goes the ball into Row Z. Terrible shot from the Manchester City star. Harry Kane then blasts a free-kick into the wall from around 25-yards out.

21: England have really gone off the boil after a decent start. Slovenia opened them up with Ilicic playing a lovely ball through to Bezjak, who skewed his effort. Stones and Cahill were wide apart.

18: Not good. Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker have all given the ball away cheaply in the last couple of minutes. Need to tighten things up.

17: Harry Kane looks to take the game by the scruff of the neck by collecting it near the centre-circle and shooting. Easily saved.

16: Jordan Henderson’s having a bit of a barney with Krhin, who flew in late on the Liverpool skipper. Slovenia enjoying a sustained period of pressure, but nothing to really trouble England.

13: Dodgy. Slovenia break and Joe Hart races off his line to claw it behind for a corner after an overhit through ball. The West Ham stopper caught Ilicic there. Lucky to get away with that.

10: The Three Lions win a couple of corners on the bounce. Cesar and Cahill have having a shoving match on the line but Slovenia eventually clear. Might need a bit of work on these dead-ball situations. Not really looked like causing any trouble.

7: I’m sorry to inform you guys that Northern Ireland are 1-0 down against Germany. A screamer from Sebastian Rudy within two minutes.

6: Slovenia’s plan is quite clear. Absorb, absorb, absorb. The visitors have been pinned back since the first kick with Raheem Sterling proving particularly tricky.

3: Positive start from Marcus Rashford. The forward leaves his marker for dead on the left flank before winning a free-kick. The youngster delivers but it alludes everyone.

ENGLAND 0-0 SLOVENIA

1: And we’re off! You know the drill, lads. One victory and we’ve qualified for next year’s World Cup finals in Russia.

19:43: Time for those national anthems folks. Don’t think I’ve ever heard the Slovenian tune before. Not a key-tapper as Terry Venables would say. Harry Kane made sure he was blasting it out with passion. As did Joe Hart, who had his eyes shut during the whole thing!

19:40: A crowd in excess of 60,000 was expected at Wembley tonight. No a chance in hell I’m counting them myself, but I can see quite a few empty seats around the ground. More like 40,000 I reckon.

19:35: Quick reminder of those starting XI’s if you’ve just found us.

England XI: Hart, Walker, Henderson, Bertrand, Stones, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cahill, Kane, Dier, Rashford, Sterling.

Subs: Butland, Smalling, Trippier, Maguire, Keane, Cresswell, Defoe, Livermore, Sturridge, Winks, Lingard, Pickford.

Slovenia XI: Oblak, Struna, Mevlja, Cesar, Jokic, Rotman, Ilicic, Krhin, Bezjak, Sporar, Verbic.

Subs: Belec, Koprivec, Skubic, Viler, Sirok, Kurtic, Matavz, Birsa, Mlinar, Repas, Bohar, Vetrih.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Joe: We’re just about to qualify for a tournament, so by my calculations that means we’re only a few months away from major disappointment.

Jamie: The squad is that bad that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is our best option. Worst squad England have ever had and it’s getting worse.

Gabriel: Happy with that XI, nice balance. Oxlade-Chamberlain gives us a bit of drive centrally. Come on England!

19:25: Just had a browse on Twitter, and I’m seeing that virtually everyone is unhappy with Ox, Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling starting, but can we all agree that Harry Kane’s captaincy is a good idea?

The Spurs striker is confident he will not be weighed down by the added responsibility of being named captain for tonight’s clash.

“For me personally nothing really changes. I will go out there and try and do my job for the team, try and score goals and try and win the match. I don’t think having an armband on your arm makes any difference to how you play or if you score goals or not.”

19:20: I suppose we’d better stick with the remarkable rise of Marcus Rashford.

After his whirlwind elevation to full England honours, Rashford has been eased in relatively gently by Southgate.

But the genie escaped from the bottle again in last month’s 2-1 win over Slovakia.

The youngster was at fault for the opening goal but hit back with skill and confidence, setting up one and scoring a brilliant winner.

He’s got another chance tonight, and another mature display would increase his grip on a regular starting spot in the build-up to 2018.

19:15: Seen tonight’s programme cover? (it’s below!)

The FA asked school groups coming to tonight’s game to design the programme cover.

And the winner was Britannia Village Primary School in Newham. Top work from everyone here at Express Towers!

19:10: Speaking of Jan Oblak, did you know that he’s kept more clean sheets in La Liga (50) than he has conceded goals (49)… Fingers crossed he’s having a bad night, eh?

19:05: Time for a quick look at tonight’s visitors.

Slovenia sit 55th in the FIFA world rankings, and managed to hold England to a frustrating 0-0 draw in Gareth Southgate’s first competitive match as manager.

There are few better goalkeepers in Europe than Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, who is now his country’s number one following the international retirement of the similarly-impressive Samir Handanovic.

FC Ufa’s sturdy defender Bojan Jokic, Chievo midfielder Valter Birsa and Atalanta attacker Josip Ilicic pose potential threats.

19:00: Analysis from our reporter Matt Dunn, at Wembley.

Much has been made of the fact Slovenia have conceded just two in their last seven qualifiers and it is true – England have their work cut out to break down their opponents tonight.

But don’t lose sight of the fact that in the bun-fight for a play-off place Slovenia really need a win to have a chance of keeping alive their dreams of a first major finals since 2010.

They were certainly dangerous enough last time in Ljubljana when Joe Hart was superb in a goalless draw and he is likely to be busier again tonight than his last two internationals.

That game in Slovenia was only the second with Gareth Southgate in charge but after a year when “improvement” has been the watchword, England should be much better than they were that night.

Injuries and suspensions, though, have taken their toll and a lot of eyes will be on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after an indifferent start to his Anfield career.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Chris: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. You are a con artist of the highest quality. Or does it show how poor England are? Or Gareth Southgate?

Nick: Give Jack Butland a game for christ sake. Far better keeper than Joe Hart in my opinion, and would give him some great experience.

Jai: Wow. Just a team of head down wingers who can’t cross? Can’t see Harry Kane getting any service from that lot.

18:50: Let’s have a look at Gareth Southgate’s selection then.

The England manager appears to be playing a 4-2-3-1 formation with captain Harry Kane leading the attack.

Manchester City duo John Stones and Raheem Sterling replace the injured Phil Jones and suspended Dele Alli.

Kyle Walker and Ryan Bertrand will provide the width from the full-back positions with Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier forming the central midfield partnership.

18:45: And here’s tonight’s starting XI folks. Looks like the rumours about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were true. He starts.

England XI: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Stones, Bertrand, Dier, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling, Rashford, Kane.

Subs: Smalling, Butland, Trippier, Maguire, Keane, Cresswell, Defoe, Livermore, Sturridge, Winks, Lingard, Pickford.

18:40: What?! I’ll bloody take the job for this kind of bonus!

Gareth Southgate will reportedly land a £250,000 payday if England beat Slovenia tonight.

The Times claims that Southgate’s contract includes a bonus payment for qualification, and that’s in addition to his £3million salary.

I think anyone making the journey to Wembley tonight paying £45 for a ticket deserves a slice of that!

18:35: We’re being rinsed, lads.

The pesky lot at Paddy Power are offering punters who are bored of watching England the chance to watch something else instead – the world’s first Paint Drying Championships.

The mischievous bookmaker will be live-streaming the competition on their Facebook page – at the same time of the England match.

It will see four colours go head-to-head for the crown – blue, red, yellow, and green – and will be broadcast live from Power Tower in Dublin, complete with a full commentary team.

18:30: Any Spurs fans worried about Harry Kane’s comments?

Kane, who won the Golden Boot as the Premier League’s top scorer in each of the past two seasons, insisted that he was happy with Tottenham but could consider a move abroad later in his career.

Asked if he wanted to play abroad, Kane said: “I would never say no or yes. You’d not rule out anything. It’s not something I definitely want to do, but you never rule anything out.”

Maybe I’m just stirring the pot but ending an interview about the possibility of playing abroad with the words ‘we’ll see what happens’ is never comforting.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Simon: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting for England highlights exactly what is wrong with the national set-up. Form players should get the chance, Ox well out of it.

Rob: Surely playing for England should be earned, not be given. On form, how is Ox in the squad, let alone playing! Sterling at No.10? FFS!

Andrew: Gareth Southgate thinks Hart is England’s best goalkeeper?! Sack him now, he clearly knows nothing!

I’m sensing the Twitter-folk aren’t happy with Gareth Southgate. Just a hunch…

18:20: It’s NOT just a big night for England folks. Scotland and Northern Ireland are in action against Slovakia and Germany respectively.

Here’s the permutations for both of them…

NORTHERN IRELAND

Michael O’Neill’s team are already guaranteed a top-two finish and can move within two points of Group C leaders Germany with one game to go if they beat the world champions in Belfast.

SCOTLAND

Victories at home to Slovakia and away to Slovenia would guarantee Gordon Strachan’s side second place in Group F. Defeat to Slovakia would eliminate them from contention for a top-two finish.

18:15: In fact, I’m going to make that tonight’s LARGE QUESTION. *Doths cap to any Alan Partridge addicts reading*

Should Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain be starting for England tonight having played so little first-team football.

Vote on the poll, comment at the bottom of the page or contact me on Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

18:10: Ready for some early, early gossip on tonight’s starting XI?

Sky Sports are claiming that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will start for England in an attacking quartet with Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane.

Don’t get me wrong, I quite like Oxlade-Chamberlain, but does 73-minutes of Premier League action since August 27 justify a starting role?

18:05: England are healthily placed five clear at the Group F summit and it would take a remarkable turnaround for them not to exit this double-header with their tournament slot settled.

Of course, this is England we’re talking about, and anything is possible.

But it would be a big boon to get the job done tonight so the logistical nerds can get arrangements sorted for the tournament.

And by that I mean where is the easiest place in Russia to fly back from after an inevitable Group Stage knockout…

18:00: Good evening folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of England vs Slovenia from Wembley Stadium.

Gareth Southgate’s side go into their penultimate World Cup qualifier knowing victory will be enough to take them to next summer’s tournament, while a point could still do the job depending on Slovakia’s result against Scotland.

That means we should all be very excited about tonight’s match, right? Me neither.

I think I was more exited by what kind of luxury burger was being served on The Apprentice last night…