Gareth Southgate wanted England to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals in style. Harry Kane's late winner in the 1-0 win over Slovenia on Thursday sealed England's place in Russia, but a match of numbing tedium was so poor Sunday's now academic final group match in Lithuania will test the loyalty of the country's armchair supporters after the dross at Wembley.
Job done, qualification secured, but no other reason for celebration as it was difficult to take too many — if any — positives from a match of mostly numbing tedium that saw an uninspired England concede possession, lack conviction and creativity. Marcus Rashford the notable exception in attack and Joe Hart for a couple of crucial saves, England was ponderous and labored. It could, as one observer remarked, have put a glass eye to sleep.
The main interest in the press box for much of the game was trying to remember a more dreary display from an England team, while everyone was left wondering how decent club players have become so ordinary on national team duty under a succession of national managers who have failed to get the best out of the players at their disposal.
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