Soccer: Four changes that helped the Three Lions

A different lineup and some luck help Capello's men kickstart campaign.

James Milner: A true wide man

Hard to believe that James Milner was moved from Aston Villa's right flank to the centre by Martin O'Neill last season. Only after that did the midfielder begin to come into regular contention for a starting place with England. Yet the ball Milner delivered for Jermain Defoe's goal in the 22rd minute was the finest cross delivered by an England player in this tournament.

Milner found a teammate with just one of his nine crosses, although his accuracy was illustrated just minutes later when another ball bounced in front of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who could only push it towards Frank Lampard. Milner's contribution vindicates Capello decision to select him after a disastrous 30 minutes in the first game.

Jermain Defoe: A potent partner for Rooney

Two goals in two starts against Slovenia - manager Matjaz Kek might be ruing his declaration after the 2-1 friendly defeat at Wembley nine months ago that England should start with Defoe.

Aside from scoring the winner, the Tottenham striker's contribution to yesterday's game was not substantial - he made just four passes - but by sticking to his role up front, he provided a target for England.

Defoe might have scored when put through by Steven Gerrard on the half-hour. Rooney's frustrations at eight England games without a goal are making him more single-minded than he might be: he should have teed up James Milner for a goal. Moreover, his ankle problem makes Defoe a significant player from now on.

John Terry: Rebel with a cause

England did not really need towering defensive displays against either the United States or Algeria, but Slovenia, as had been predicted, offered a greater offensive threat. If there had been any doubt about his mindset after the events of the past four days, it evaporated at the sight of the former captain in the tunnel before the game. He was the only England player talking among the tense souls lining up.

Initially, the anxiety was infectious. Terry almost allowed Valter Birsa in early into the game. But his contribution grew as the match progressed and England's place in the last 16 rests in part on two superbly timed tackles from him: on Zlatan Ljubijankic, after Ashley Cole's slice gave the striker the space to run down the left in the first half. Then, after a visibly tiring Gareth Barry had given the ball away, Terry snuffed out Slovenia's most dangerous moment of the game with a block on Milivoje Novakovic and then hurled himself towards the rebound, which Glen Johnson charged down.

If keeper Samir Handanovic had not turned a Terry header around a post, he would dominate the headlines today. He deserves to take them anyway.

A little luck at last

Progress from a three-game group often defies rationale. After all the planning, getting through can turn on a moment of good fortune. The lasting consequences of bad luck were visible last night, as Robert Green walked out of the stadium wearing the face of a man whose world has stopped turning.

The other side of fortune's wheel revealed itself in the 90th minute of yesterday's match when Slovenia broke, the ball fell to Zlatko Dedic in the England penalty area and the nation gasped at the sight of Matthew Upson - England's fourth-choice centre-half, whose afternoon had been rather unconvincing - shaping to tackle. Yet Upson made possibly the best challenge Fabio Capello will see from one of his players in this World Cup.

He would not have played had Jamie Carragher not been suspended. Yet the Liverpool defender, with his vulnerability to pace, probably would not have been in place to attempt that tackle. That is the kind of luck on which tournaments - and managerial careers - can turn.

Capello may also have been lucky to stumble on the idea to allow his players a few beers the night before the game. His decision - from his own "imagination" as he put it - bore out what has become obvious about the England set-up; that the players must have a chance to relax or, as one ex-international put it here, they "just need a beer inside them". Frank Lampard implied no one took up Capello on his offer, which suggests that John Terry was speaking only for himself when calling for some downtime. "Sometimes those things are on offer and it's up to you if you take them," Lampard said. "You just don't have 10 beers, you might have one or two."

Terry may try to claim credit for that piece of luck.

- Independent