England’s manager, Gareth Southgate has said the Three Lions remain “a work in progress” and warned they “won’t become Spain in eight months” after they qualified for next summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Harry Kane’s stoppage-time goal saw off Slovenia on Thursday but England were poor at a subdued Wembley.
Southgate said: “This team has potential but we have a hell of a lot of work to do.
“It’s blindingly obvious we could have played better – but we are there.”
Southgate has guided his team to an expected qualification – their sixth World Cup in a row, equalling England’s best run – after taking over from Sam Allardyce in November.
His side have dropped just four points in the whole campaign but were flat at Wembley until Kane continued his hot scoring streak with a 14th goal in nine games for club and country.
When England travel to Russia, it will be 52 years since the 1966 World Cup victory on home soil. However, Spain – who Southgate chose to reference – won three major tournaments back to back between 2008 and 2012.
The 47-year-old said: “Tonight highlighted where we are. Of course we’d have liked to have played more fluidly and scored more goals.
“It is a work in progress and when I was given the job the aim was to qualify for the World Cup. As a young team having to deal with the expectation and criticism of their performances, it is tough for them.
“They are giving everything they’ve got. They don’t have Champions League winning medals between them.
“In the end, it’s crucial for English football to be at the World Cup.”