From the Back Pages, November 15: Roy Hodgson: I kept faith with Joe Hart because rivals weren’t at same level

Joe Hart has been told he has to stay at the top of his England game – because he now has genuine competition for the first time. (The Mirror)

For a nation of two million people, Slovenia is far better at football than it ever expected to be, reaching a European Championship and two World Cups since independence in 1992. (The Independent)

Gordon Strachan’s success as the Scotland manager, in breaking from what had become a dismal normality before his appointment, has been turning promise into tangible reward. That much was the case again on a tense and fraught evening as they secured a crucial win over the Republic of Ireland courtesy of Shaun Maloney’s fine second-half goal. (The Guardian)

Northern Ireland’s perfect start to Euro 2016 qualifying came crashing down in Romania after Paul Papp ended their brave resistance with a second-half brace. (The Telegraph)

David de Gea will miss Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus on Saturday after dislocating his right finger in training. (Daily Mail)

TRANSFER NEWS: £150m Bale Chelsea snub, Man Utd land Firmino, Liverpool want £25m Schurrle. (The Express)

After a sequence of four consecutive defeats, England intend to deliver a backlash when they play South Africa at Twickenham this afternoon. (The Times)