Crossword Genius

Slips by left-winger in England failures (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

elapses

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'slips by' is the definition.
('elapse' can be a synonym of 'slip by')

'england failures' is the wordplay.
'england' becomes 'e'.
'failures' becomes 'lapses' (lapse is a kind of failure).
'e'+'lapses'='ELAPSES'

'left-winger in' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for elapses that I've seen before include "Slips away" , "Passes (in time)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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