England 1-0 Slovenia recap as Harry Kane's stoppage-time winner rubber stamps Three Lions' World Cup spot

An injury time Harry Kane goal saw England seal qualification for next summer’s World Cup , after a dour night against Slovenia at Wembley.

A dull first half saw Joe Hart almost give a penalty in the first ten minutes and then peak when Jan Oblak saved a low long-range Jordan Henderson effort.

And it was more of the same to start the second half as the Three Lions failed to create any chances of any real note until the final 20 minutes when Raheem Sterling went close.

Kane’s winner eventually came, meaning England will finish top of Group F and can start planning their to Russia.

John Cross was at Wembley and has dished out his player ratings...

England are going to the World Cup!

Gareth Southgate’s side progressed to next summer’s football extravaganza in Russia thanks to goal machine Harry Kane.

The Tottenham front man bundled in a stoppage time winner to force the Three Lions over the line and onto the plane.

Kane, on his home ground, finished after a fantastic low cross from former teammate Kyle Walker.

Here are 5 talking points...

It’s all over - England qualify for the World Cup!

A 0-0 draw would have been enough, but Harry Kane’s late winner puts the gloss on it and the Three Lions are off to Russia.

Not a classic by any means, or a particularly good performance, but it’s job done for Gareth Southgate and the Three Lions.

As it stands, a goalless draw is enough for England.

Scotland have taken the lead at Hampden which means they have it in their hands to finish second.

Six minutes added time here.

He’s not had a great deal to do, but that was a magnificent save from Joe Hart.

Matavz streams through one-on-one, Hart gets down brilliantly to stop it and takes a whack for his troubles.

The ref gives a foul, but Hart doesn’t know that, and gets up to make another superb stop.

Bravo.

England creating more, but Slovenia also looking a danger on the break.

I’m not promising a goal, but it’s looking more lively than it was about 15 mins ago.

Just over 10 remaining.

Another good counter attacking move from England.

Sterling’s effort on the spin is blocked and it falls to Kane whose chance goes inches wide.

20 mins to go - will England get the goal?

This is more like it from the Three Lions.

Rashford’s pull back falls to Sterling who thinks he’s scored, but it’s a brilliant block to turn it behind for a corner.

Better from England.

England’s best chance by a mile.

A counter attack and Sterling does brilliantly to play in Rashford down the left.

He goes in one-on-one with Oblak and opts to chip him rather than putting his laces through it.

Probably the wrong decision; it doesn’t make the goal and it’s cleared.

Slovenia arguably doing more of the pressing, here.

England do have a moment, though, as a decent ball in from Henderson is deflected towards Kane, but his control is off and it runs behind for a goal kick.

An hour gone.

Another hairy moment for Joe Hart.

Jokic wins the header at the back post, it should be a comfortable save, but Hart juggles.

He just about gets away with it.

I promise the second half will be better.

Promise.

We’re back underway.

Is anyone surprised by this?

“It’s boring,” says Ryan Giggs at the break. Hard to disagree.

Slovenia should have had a penalty early in the piece, too.

England have to be better second half.

Half-time.

Not a lot to say. England had more of the ball, but Slovenia arguably the better chances.

Goalless at the break.

England flattering to deceive.

Wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?

Stones overruns a ball and is booked for a lunging tackle.

Rashford wins a free-kick for England 20 yards out from goal, fairly central.

For some reason, Kyle Walker, who has not scored a goal for two years, is stood over it.

He somewhat predictably blazes over the bar.

That was weird.

It’s not a thriller, folks.

Disappointing crowd inside Wembley tonight, too, it has to be said. And they’re quiet. Very quiet.

Apart from that band who remarkably are still a thing.

Henderson goes close for England!

He cuts in from the left and bends one towards the corner, but Oblak tips wide of the post.

The corner is cleared.

Teasing ball on from the left from Rashford and Kane is an inch from stabbing home from close range.

Up the other end, Bezjak gets on the end of Ilicic’s ball in but glances wide.

England the better side but Slovenia having their moments.

Kane takes a pop shot for England, with Sporar doing likewise at the other end.

Easy saves for both goalkeepers.

A quarter of an hour gone and it’s all a bit England-at-Wembley.

Good work from Slovenia and Joe Hart comes out to try and smother.

He doesn’t get a touch on the ball and the opposition striker Ilicic hits the deck... but the referee and linesman give a corner.

A lucky moment for England’s keeper there, that should’ve been a penalty.

Good work from Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right, his cross is turned behind and England have a corner.

It’s not the best from Rashford, but England work it well to force another corner.

This one is better, but Slovenia defend well to push England out.

Strong start from the Three Lions.

The Manchester United man wins an early free-kick for England wide on the left.

He whips it in but it’s cleared by the Slovenian rearguard.

Very green kit for the visitors tonight. Very green.

Anthems? Check.

Pre-match pleasantries? Check.

Here we go! England kick us off.

What do we reckon, folks?

A big night for England, potentially, with that place at next summer’s World Cup available to be sealed.

Kick-off is just minutes away.

Easily the most notable name is that of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak who will be looking to keep England at bay.

That being said, anything less than three points for the Three Lions tonight will represent failure.

Slovenia: Oblak; Aljaž Struna, Mevlja, Cesar, Jokic; Bezjak, Krhin, Rotman, Verbic; Ilicic; Šporar

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has come in for plenty of criticism since his move to Liverpool, but Gareth Southgate has kept faith with him.

Can he turn in the performance to see England to Russia?

Just over half an hour to kick off.

Gareth Southgate has backed Raheem Sterling to win the hearts of England fans against Slovenia.

The Manchester City winger, outstanding for his club so far with six goals in nine games, will play in the No.10 position at Wembley on Thursday night.

He has been savaged, however, for his recent displays in a Three Lions shirt.

Southgate, whose men will qualify for the World Cup with a win, said: “Raheem is a tough lad.

“Thats one of the attributes I really like about him. He bounces back from disappointments and he goes again. He is ready for tomorrow.”

Here’s the full story.

Gareth Southgate has revealed how Alan Shearer offered tips to the England squad on Tuesday - and was given a grilling for his role in the media.

Southgate has invited former England internationals to give advice to his young players, with Sir Bobby Charlton visiting St George’s Park on Monday and John Barnes making an appearance in June.

Shearer, once England’s most lethal striker and now a pundit for the BBC’s Match of the Day, is the latest to join up with the current crop and Southgate was pleased the subject of media criticism came up.

“He got a bit of a grilling because of what he’s doing now,” Southgate said.

Here’s the full story.

Gareth Southgate has set his sights on a luxury spa hotel near St Petersburg as England’s World Cup venue.

England boss Southgate and FA chiefs have identified ForRestMix Club which is 45 minutes outside the city as their favoured venue.

Southgate was keen to avoid Moscow because of the heavy traffic and it would be difficult for the squad to move around.

They have been keen on St Petersburg as a base and this venue offers spa, a luxury hotel and stunning grounds.

Here’s the full story.

FA chief Martin Glenn has vowed England will be mentally tougher at the next World Cup.

The Three Lions suffered an embarrassing defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016 when Roy Hodgson’s team froze in their first knockout game.

Speaking before tonight’s World Cup tie against Slovenia which can seal qualification, the FA chief executive admitted lessons had been learned from the France “failure” and the “brittleness” would be gone for Russia next summer.

Glenn said: “The important thing we had to take out of the Euros was: we know that we have not been leading edge in terms of psychological support for that senior team.

Read more here.

Afternoon all, how’s tricks? Splendid.

Welcome to MirrorFootball’s live coverage of England’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia, in what could be a big night for the Three Lions.

Gareth Southgate’s men know that a win under the Wembley arch tonight will see them seal their place in next summer’s fun and games in Russia.

The Three Lions enter tonight’s clash five points clear at the top of Group F, so three points this evening will hand them an unassailable lead ahead of Sunday’s final qualifier.

Southgate will have to make do without Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli this evening as he serves his one-match ban for his middle-finger gesture at Kyle Walker in the 2-1 win over Slovakia last month.

Raheem Sterling and John Stones will be both be pushing for starting XI spots.

Slovenia need to win in order to keep any hope of reaching Russia alive and are missing defender Miral Samardzic through injury.

We’ll have all the action from Wembley as it happens, so whack on the kettle and we’ll get started...