Slovakia may have held England in Saint-Etienne but that did not stop their kit-man underlining their admiration for the visitors, having posted a message in the away dressing room asking for a shirt after the match.
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“I think it will be a tough game because Slovakia are well-organised and will try to hit us on the break”.
Amazingly, England have not lost a World Cup qualifier since 2009 when Fabio Capello’s side were beaten 1-0 in the Ukraine in the final game of the group.
Hodgson received a torrent of criticism after making six changes for the match, in which England failed to score despite dominating proceedings.
Of the two players, Ross Barkley is arguably the one who can feel most aggrieved about missing out on this squad.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has left Manchester City for Torino on a season-long loan after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola, keeps his place for the game at Trnava’s City Arena. “Every new job that you get, you get nervous – you’re hoping your players go out and do your talking for you”.
But new Three Lions coach Sam Allardyce looks set to follow Mourinho’s lead and play his skipper further forward, with Alli the man likely to have to drop back.
West Ham United midfielder Michail Antonio, meanwhile, could win his first cap.
Despite Allardyce’s squad being similar to the one that travelled with Hodgson to France in the summer, there is one opportunity for a player to make a senior global debut in the form of Michail Antonio.
Rooney – who became England’s most capped outfield player – saw a free-kick ripple the top of the net, and Lallana thudded a left-footed strike against the post as frustrations grew.
AC Milan midfielder Juraj Kucka has not been able to take part in full training and will not feature, while uncapped defender Jakub Holubek is sidelined with an ankle injury.
“People in England love football and their players are under a lot of pressure from the media and from the public”, said Kozak.
Managing England might be a privilege for Big Sam but it’s also a responsibility to a nation that feels thoroughly flat about its worldwide team.
But he is still raring to go at the start of his seventh tournament campaign as an England global.
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Although that trio have been axed by former Sunderland boss Allardyce, he has still kept faith with eight of the team humiliated by the 2-1 loss against Iceland in Nice.
