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SMITH ON SOCCER - England battled together: Fabio
OUR agony is prolonged, at least until Sunday.
We should have known that if it could happen, it would.But we'll worry about Germany later.
England's transformation last night was enough to see off Slovenia and we should savour the victory.
We all know why.
"They play together, they fight together," the England manager bellowed to glorious Gabby Logan on the final whistle as his players grappled in a happy huddle of match breath and tattoo sweat.
"I refound the team that I had in qualification, their mind is free."
Fabio Capello, himself transformed from Bo Selecta to team selector with a smile on his face and a relief in his heart that we could all share. Here's why.
2.57pm Pre-match God save the Queen at hairs-up volume from England fans - love them or loathe them it's what the team needs today in their shirts the colour of stawberry Mivvi rather than 1966 red.
1 min: Frantic start. Johnson slices his clearance Algeria-style.
3: Defoe sharp into the tackle, in one instant producing more come-on-lads aggression than shown in 90 minutes on Friday.
10: Rooney doubles his recent effectiveness in a single run and cross.
14: 35 metres out Lampard hits a steamer but the keeper saves easily.
England are busier, faster, sharper. They can pass, head and shoot. France can go home without us.
22.00 GOAL Defoe onto Milner's brilliant, curling cross. Tries to hit the keeper in the face, misses and it's in.
"We're on the way," says the TV commentator tempting a fate already far too fickle.
26: Milner again Defoe again, keeper blocks, ball rolls out to Lampard's wrong foot - over the bar.
30: England now brilliant. Passes slide between Defoe, Gerrard, Rooney. Defoe's shot saved, Gerrard's careful side-footer into the corner smuggled away by keeper Handanovic.
36: The pace has gone out of the game, Rooney is still losing the ball at every opportunity. England becalmed.
41: The first booking - for two bad tackles and a handball - he must be Jokic.
Half time.
46 Defoe flicks wide when he should be making the game safe. Might come back to haunt him - and 50 million of us.
49 Johnson booked for not diving
56 John Terry great header, great save.
57 Rooney times his run, one-on-one with keeper, hits the post. Lawrenson says he scuffed it, he didn't. He was going for the corner.
66 Rooney's limping.
67 Barry loses the ball with a 'rinky-dink' pass says Lawrenson.
Slovenia break. Two vital blocks Terry, Johnson with Terry covering with his face proper defender style, the third shot goes wide.
We have been warned. Change of trousers anyone?
72 mins: Rooney off injured.
"It's that nervy, it's that tense, it's that close," says commentator Guy Mowbray.
Tell us about it Guy.
England trapped in that win-it, lose-it, win-it, lose-it, tip-tap, nightmare 1-0-up teams go through. They're as nervous as we are at home.
Uh-oh It's Heskey.
85 'Happy days,' says Lawro as Slovenia blast one over the bar.
86 Joe Cole lashes wide
90 mins: Matthew no-one-knows-why-he's-in the-team Upson makes full-stretch, injury time, match-winning tackle. Now we know why he's in the team.
91 Lampard wins a free kick beautifully to kill a few seconds
Time crawls like teatime Parkway traffic.
Then it's over.
We can take the dog for a walk and dream, put the tea on and let our minds wander to Sunday. We can read all the papers, buy more beer and prepare for Germany, our lives transformed. For now.
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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