Lallana struck in the fifth minute of added-time to delay the inquisition on England’s earlier failure to break down 10-man Slovakia after former Liverpool defender Martin Škrtel had been dismissed for two bookable offences on striker Harry Kane.
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Rooney is now his country’s most capped outfield player, ahead of David Beckham, and is just nine games away from equalling goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s record of 125 England caps. “It’s up to me to ask whether he’s doing well in that position and contributing”.
England dominated the game throughout but didn’t find a victor until the fifth minute of added time through Adam Lallana’s first goal at senior global level.
Allardyce, who took over from Roy Hodgson in July, says he “can’t stop” Rooney from dropping into midfield, adding the player has a “lot more experience at global football” than he does.
England have a new lucky charm after their dramatic victory in Trnava – a shiny gold coin given to new manager Sam Allardyce by a Slovakian fan.
“I put pressure on myself to score goals and I knew it was only a matter of time”, he told ITV. He’s won everything at Manchester United, at Champions League and domestic level.
Lallana hit the post and substitute Theo Walcott had a goal ruled out for offside as Slovakia threatened to pull off a repeat of their 0-0 draw against England at Euro 2016.
“I think that he holds a lot more experience at worldwide football than me as an global manager”.
“So, when he is using his experience and playing as a team member, it’s not for me to say where he’s going to play”.
“And for ourselves as well because we were the most unhappy of everyone and there is a long way to go until we are happy again”.
“When we finished, he said: ‘Here’s a lucky coin for you.’ So I said: ‘Thank you very much.’ In the end we had a little bit of luck and we won, so it’ll stay with me”.
“Of course it’s a great start for Sam and the team”.
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For now, though, he is able to look back on an exciting start, and a winning one, in his dream job. I had some half-chances that on another day could have sneaked in but overall I was happy with the way things went.
