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Ammon News - England and Slovenia played to a 0-0 draw in their final Group C match of the 2023 UEFA European Championship on Tuesday.

Despite the draw, England secured the top spot in Group C with five points, while Slovenia advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in their history, finishing third with three points.

England, having already qualified for the round of 16, delivered another underwhelming attacking performance, managing only three shots on target throughout the match.Despite dominating possession with 71%, their attack struggled to break down a well-organized Slovenian defence.

Slovenia, on the other hand, celebrated the draw as a historic achievement. Their resolute defensive display earned them a crucial point, which, combined with Denmark's draw against Serbia, was enough to secure third place in the group.

Despite having the same points, goal difference, goals scored, and disciplinary record as Denmark, Slovenia progressed due to a superior UEFA ranking, which served as the tiebreaker based on their qualifying campaign.

The draw means England will avoid facing other European heavyweights like France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal in the round of 16, as these teams were drawn into the other half of the knockout stage.

However, their lacklustre performance has raised concerns about their ability to replicate their Euro 2020 success, where they finished as runners-up to Italy.

Slovenia's historic qualification for the knockout stage marks a significant milestone for the nation's footballing history. Their defensive resilience and tactical discipline will likely be key factors as they prepare to face a higher-ranked opponent in the next round.