Hello and welcome to our live updates between Slovenia and England.
Much has been said about England's abject performances against Algeria and the USA. Even more has been said about their players' off-field behaviour, which has clearly not pleased Fabio Capello.
He brought down the hammer firmly on a press-conference, backed Wayne Rooney to start firing again and has talked about England going all the way.. perhaps even winning the tournament.
A win will put them into the round of 16, a draw would mean looking over their shoulders to see what's happening in the Algeria vs USA game and a defeat would send them back to the drawing board.
England has been on "Fever Pitch" mode - to borrow the title of a very popular Football book - ever since the World Cup started. Betraying its fans and other followers across the globe will be just one side of the story.
The other: the so called golden generation of English football is on its last leg and it cannot afford to go back with just a vuvuzela for their grandchildren. The Gerrards, the Carraghers, the Lampards, the Upsons are all on on the wrong side or nearing thirty and this would be their last real tilt at gaining world order.
Forty four years hence (winning their only World Cup) could so easily become 52 years since as the current England squad could so easily become the first England squad to not qualify from the first round after 1958 (they did not qualify for the World Cup finals in 1974, 1978 and 1994).
Enough about England for the time being.
Their opponent for the day, Slovenia, is here on merit. They shocked 2008 Euro semifinalist Russia in a play-off last year to qualify for the World Cup. They are the smallest nation at this World Cup and would be looking to make headlines again.
Enough of all the pointless facts. The line-ups are.
Team line-ups:-
Slovenia: Samir Handanovic, Miso Brecko, Marko Suler, Bostjan Cesar, Bojan Jokic Valter Birsa, Robert Koren, Aleksandar Radosavljevic, Andraz Kirm, Zlatan Ljubijankic, Milivoje Novakovic.
England: David James, Glen Johnson, Matthew Upson, John Terry, Ashley Cole, James Milner, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney.
Interesting decisions there by Capello. He has gone for pace upfront pairing Rooney with Defoe. He has also gone for creativity in midfield with the inclusion of James Milner.
Just some further developments from France and their current turmoil. >Nicolas Sarkozy is set to meet Theirry Henry tomorrow to discuss about the team's behaviour in South Africa.
Back to team news: with Carragher suspended, Capello recalls Upson to the starting line-up.
All the important developments from the other game of the group (Algeria vs USA) will also be highlighted.
The camera inside the tunnel shows a very focussed - even somewhat morose - Steven Gerrard. A massive night coming up for the Liverpool skipper. Can he be captain fantastic once again?
The teams are coming out of the tunnel. Moments away from kick-off.
For fans, who have found a very striking resemblance between the comings and goings of The Three Lions and the Men in Blue, you might be right. >Read on...
Rise, for the national anthems.
The players are shaking hands. The tension can be felt in the air. The camera pans towards Capello and he is giving nothing away, probably he has it locked up under the steely stare.
It has kicked-off. Slovenia doing the honours.
2nd minute A skier is not read properly by Johnson and it bounces off his feet and goes out for a throw-in. They will have to be much better than that, England.
4th minute Some possession in the attacking third for England but nothing comes of it.
5th minute Johnson concedes a free-kick and the referee Wolfgang Stark is not happy. Another tackle and the right back will be in the book, assures referee Wolfgang Stark.
7th minute A good driving run from the right before Birsa tests James with a 30-yard effort. James holds on to it. First shot on goal out of the way.
9th minute The water-carrier in this England midfield Gareth Barry commits to a tackle but illegally, according to the referee. He claims to have got the ball but the decision stands.
10th minute Rooney goes on a little run down the left before trying to find Gerrard, who's taken up shelter behind the last Slovenian defender just outside the six-yard box, but it is headed behind by the last man. Good movement that by Rooney.
14th minute Lampard hits a free-kick from about 25-yards but the keeper makes a low diving catch.
15th minute A cute little pass from Rooney tries to release Lampard into the box but the pass is overhit a fraction.
17th minute A good patient build-up sees Rooney's driving effort from near the penalty box deflected behind for a corner.
20th minute Johnson's left-footed drive from the right is pouched by the keeper. He will look to bomb on down the right whenever presented with an opportunity.
21st minute A Slovenian corner is not cleared and a touch almost sees them go ahead but for the alert James who reacts well. Nice reaction save that.
22rd minuteMilner's cross from near the right byline is put into the back of the net by Defoe, who got ahead of his marker. The keeper got both hands but found it too hot to handle. A simple goal.
27th minute Defoe almost gets to ball ahead of the keeper as another cross from the right catches Slovenia out. The rebound - which is palmed away by the keeper - is thumped by Lampard from just outside the post. But it is not on target. The Chelsea midfielder would be disappointed with that.
28th minute Another menacing ball from the right is delivered into the Slovenia box. But Gerrard mis-controls it.
30th minute Rooney combines with Gerrard inside the area before teeing up Gerrard for a screamer from the edge of the area. But Gerrard elects to pass it into the right bottom corner but the keeper reads it and smothers it... it was bouncing tantalisingly close to the goalline. There was an earlier shot just a few seconds back from Defoe which was saved by the keeper.
No action worth reporting yet from the group's other game
36th minute They are having fun down the right. Another tempting pass across the face of the six-yard box is delivered by Milner. But this time a Slovenian is there and he glances it behind for a corner.
40th minute It's been England all along here but they know they will have to double the advantage because at 1-0 it just takes one-kick of the football to level things.
42nd minute A free-kick from 40-yards for Slovenia takes a deflection and the loopy ball is punched away by a flying James. No danger comes of it and the referee awards a free-kick for infringement by the Slovenians.
The whistle blows for half-time. England has completrely dominated proceedings here and the Slovenians haven't really offered much upfront. Gerrard had a lovely chance to slot the ball past the keeper but the Slovenian custodian was equal to the task.
Capello will be relieved - at least the next 15 minutes - as Defoe, one of the men who was recalled for this game, scored.
Join me shortly for the second-half action.
Sorry but we had a technical fault for about 25 minutes. It's all back now.
Just a few incidents to report. Rooney had a couple of glorious opportunities to put game to bed. But the Slovenian keeper was on hand to pull off a great save.
The Slovenians, just minutes back, had a great chance to score a level but some last ditch blocking from the English defence saved the day for the Three Lions.
72nd minute Rooney replaced by Joe Cole, who at last gets a game.
The other game is still deadlocked at nil-nil
Surprising substituition that. With just a 1-0 lead for the English, Capello might have wanted the inspiration of Rooney on the pitch. Or, maybe, worse.. Could be carrying an injury?
As it stands: England would qualify as group leaders with Slovenia going through in second place. But everything could change. About 15 minutes plus stoppage remaining.
78th minute The Coles combine down the left before Ashley releases Joe into the penalty box down the left. But the pass is overcooked and Joe cannot reach there.
79th minute Birsa is shown a yellow card
Been a bit dull the last few minutes. England hasn't had attacking forays since Rooney exited. Slovenia themselves look a bit calm here - that perspective could change if USA scores an opener against Algeria.
Defoe comes off for Heskey.
86th minute A Slovenian corner comes out to a defender whose first-time effort from 30 yards goes into row Z.
87th minute Joe Cole runs into the box and connects with a long pass but his shot goes wide.
Almost into stoppage time. England and Slovenia are still going through.
Just a few more seconds more for England to go through as group winners.
And the final whistle goes. England have qualified for the last 16. It was a game they had to win and they did just that. Rooney had chances to put this match to bed but did not take his chances. It has not come back to haunt them. The Three Lions would look to put aside their differences aside and start afresh before the pre-quarterfinals.
AND DRAMA IN THE OTHER GAME: USA has scored an injury time goal against the Algerians. They have pipped England into second place. What drama from South Africa. Slovenia is eliminated. USA has qualified in pole position.
Delirious scenes from the USA camp as they qualify and break Slovenian hearts...
The events after the match have probably been more exciting than the match itself. So England will have to settle for second place in the group after the USA victory.
Well that's all from me. Join Ashwin Achal for his coverage of the Ghana v Germany game at midnight.
