Joe Hart’s one-man super show saves Three Lions from World Cup defeat

Torino keeper produces string of world class stops as Gareth Southgate’s men escape with a point despite dismal display

JOE HART produced a series of outstanding saves to stop England crashing to a World Cup defeat to Slovenia.

Hart made a series of world class stops, including an incredible acrobatic effort just after the break, as Gareth Southgate’s team turned in an abject display.

Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson were both saved from embarrassment as Hart denied Slovenia from two woeful backpasses.

England’s best chance feel to Jesse Lingard who was denied by Jan Oblak, but Southgate’s side escaped with a point that keeps them top of Group F.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

·England started the game with a side who had scored 22 international goals between them – less than their Slovenian opponents.

·Daniel Sturridge wasted two great chances in the first three minutes, first curling a shot wide then his poor touch let him down after being found by Dele Alli.

·Eric Dier replaced Wayne Rooney to give added security defensively – but Joe Hart had to save one-on-one from Roman Besjak after a woeful backpass from the Tottenham man.

·Hart was left laughing with relief seconds later when Jasmin Kurtic smashed a shot against the post and Besjak then fluffed his lines from the rebound.

·England looked far from solid defensively every time Slovenia attacked, with Gary Cahill looking shaky in possession.

·Kurtic won’t know anything about it, but he denied England the lead when Cahill met Jordan Henderson’s free-kick with a header only to see the ball cannon off the back of the Slovenian’s head.

·Hart produced a world class save to deny Slovenia the lead two minutes after break, somehow clawing away Kurtic’s header from the top corner.

·England’s passing continually let them down – not least when Alli failed to find Sturridge as he broke through on goal.

·Gareth Southgate made his first change bringing on Andros Townsend for Theo Walcott on 61 minutes – it could have been any of England’s poor front three coming off.

·Hart rescued his side again, this time after a woeful Henderson backpass as with a save to deny Josip Ilicic.

·Wayne Rooney was given 18 minutes to sort England out, replacing Alli and immediately taking the armband off Henderson.

·Rooney was unlucky to see a 20-yard shot curl just wide off the post, extending his run of two months without a goal.

They said…..

England keeper Joe Hart on his display and wonder-save: “It’s my best game in a while, I was asked to do quite a bit, but that was down to a few errors from us.

“My body is in absolute pieces, I am going to struggle to get up in the morning. I just did everything I could to get it out.

“I don’t actually know what know what happened, I only just saw it back on the TV. All I know is I hit my body on the framework.”