HUNGER, desire, aggression.

According to Steven Gerrard, these were the key components missing from England’s World Cup campaign prior to yesterday’s crucial Group C decider in Port Elizabeth.

Over a fortnight since touching down in South Africa, England finally combined all three to announce their arrival.

‘Do-or-die’ was how the England captain described the final group game against Slovenia.

Jermaine Defoe’s first half winner ensured England live to fight at least another day.

That the day in question is now Sunday rather than Saturday thanks to Landon Donovan’s last gasp winner for the USA in Pretoria matters little for now.

If, as expected, England’s second place finish behind the American’s pairs them with Argentina in the last eight, the former Everton loanee’s strike may then bear stronger significance.

A much kinder route against either Uruguay or South Korea was the carrot dangling at the top of Group C and a path the USA will now tread should they beat Ghana.

For Fabio Capello’s side they must negotiate safe passage past arch rivals Germany in Bloemfontein.

Given what came before Slovenia, however, England can be thankful to have made the cut.

After Robert Green’s schoolboy error against the USA, and then the dire offering against Algeria, the fear of failure that Gerrard spoke of had the desired effect in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Set against the deafening buzz of the vuvuzela, England’s players finally awoke from their slumber to put in a performance worthy of the grandest stage in football.

The only concern was why the game wasn’t put to bed sooner.

Though England rode their luck later on, the scoreline flattered Slovenia.

Under pressure and under fire, the word was that Capello would be expected to do the honourable thing and resign if England came up short again.

Instead, the wily Italian provided some insight as to why the English FA see fit to pay him £6million per annum for what is effectively a part time job.

Out went Emile Heskey and Aaron Lennon. In came Jermain Defoe and James Milner.

Despite his critics, Heskey can feel hard done by after being one of England’s better performers so far.

But Defoe's finish from Milner's pinpoint cross vindicated the manager's decision to change his forward line from the start for the first time during the tournament.

Points to prove perhaps?

This was Defoe's first start since the maiden match of Capello's reign, when the Tottenham striker was dragged off at half-time after firing a blank against Andorra in Barcelona.

As for man-of-the-match contender Milner, his performance should exorcise the ignominy of being replaced half an hour into the 1-1 draw with the USA in Rustenburg 12 days ago.

The goal on 23 minutes acted to lift the weight of a week of unrest from the England player's shoulders, prompting them to attack with the freedom displayed throughout qualifying.

At the other end of the pitch, John Terry and Matthew Upson proved impenetrable, although you wonder if England would have been made to pay for the late chances Slovenia passed up.

Instead, vital blocks from Terry, Upson and Glen Johnson kept Matjaz Kek's side at bay as Capello's men finally displayed the fighting spirit expected of them.

“We play together, fight together,” said the Italian afterwards. “We go forward without fear.” What a difference a win makes.