Sam Allardyce has kept faith with eight of the side that started England’s Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia, which is live on ITV from 4.30pm.
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The former Sunderland boss has handed West Ham midfielder Michail Antonio a first worldwide call-up, but has stuck with Wayne Rooney as captain – who has said the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation will be his last global tournament. The period 2014-16 was a fantastic ride for this young team and it’s something we have to try and achieve again.
Slovakia away on Sunday is arguably England’s toughest game in a group which also pits them against Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta.
“Nobody is going to stop John Stones playing from the back”.
Slovakia’s main threat remains Marek Hamsik.
England would be looking to put the ghosts of their Euro 2016 performances behind them as they aim to begin a new chapter under a new manager in Sam Allardyce.
Only time will tell but in my opinion we will see a him utilising the player’s strengths rather than forcing them to play a way that’s is is different to the way they play every week in the Premier League.
Perhaps the omission of Marcus Rashford has created another problem for Allardyce, with the United teenager showing last Saturday, with his stoppage time victor at Hull City, that his pace and gamblers’ instinct provides a wonderful outlet in the final third for his team-mates.
But the new England boss admits there will be first-day nerves in Trnava.
Several players who lined up in England red at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on June 20 have seen their statuses change significantly in the two months and two weeks since.
Allardyce removed some of the speculation and intrigue around his first game in charge by naming his starting XI a full 48 hours early.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart returned from France with his reputation damaged and his status as undisputed number one under threat after a wretched tournament characterised by mistakes that resulted in goals against Wales and, more significantly, in the loss to Iceland in the knockout phase.
Allardyce confirmed this week that Rooney, as under Hodgson, would be the captain.
Dele Alli was perhaps most unfortunate to miss the cut, a victim of captain Wayne Rooney’s selection in his preferred No. 10 role.
Hodgson received a torrent of criticism after making six changes for the match, in which England failed to score despite dominating proceedings.
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Key Player: Wayne Rooney – There are many who feel the Manchester United man needs to now be taken out of the worldwide picture, but Allardyce has kept him as captain and Rooney will become the outright leader for appearances made by an outfield player on Sunday.
