Trnava,Slovakia: Sam Allardyce’s tenure as England manager begins on Sunday when his side launch their bid to reach the 2018 World Cup against former Euro 2016 foes Slovakia in Trnava.
Allardyce, 61, was handed the role he had long coveted after Roy Hodgson stepped down in the immediate aftermath of England’s humiliating Euro 2016 elimination by Iceland.
It was England’s most dismal loss since a 1-0 defeat by the part-timers of the United States at the 1950 World Cup, but Allardyce believes the experience will make his young team stronger.
“For me it is about going out and the players showing not just how passionate they are, but how skilful they are at international level,” he told reporters this week.
“We were the youngest squad at the Euros and I think the experience they have gained in that tournament — some of them for the first time — will give them a better determination and next time round they will be much better.”
England would not have encountered Iceland in France had it not been for a frustrating 0-0 draw against Slovakia in Saint-Etienne in their final group game.
Hodgson received a torrent of criticism after making six changes for the match, in which England failed to score despite dominating proceedings.
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 will drop Dele Alli, Daniel Sturridge and Chris Smalling for the Slovakia, British media reported. 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.
Joe Hart, who joined Torino on loan after slipping to third in the pecking order at Manchester City, remains in goal despite his lack of action this season because Fraser Forster’s arm injury leaves him as the only established goalkeeper.
With Smalling out of the United team at present Allardyce has settled on a defensive pairing of Gary Cahill and John Stones, the latter back in favour having not played a minute in France.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson is due to return in midfield alongside Eric Dier, with Adam Lallana restored in a rejigged forward line.
Allardyce had already stated his intention to use his captain, Rooney, in the same number 10 role he has been performing for Manchester United and that leaves no room for Tottenham playmaker Alli.
Rooney will become England’s record outfield cap-holder when he lines up at Trnava’s City Arena, surpassing David Beckham’s 115.
England look likely to begin with a 4-2-3-1 formation similar to United’s, with Harry Kane leading the line.
He has yet to score for Tottenham this season but has done enough in training at St George’s Park to convince Allardyce he should keep Sturridge and Jamie Vardy on the bench.
Tottenham’s Danny Rose has retained the left-back role despite competition from fit-again Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw.
Slovakia coach Jan Kozak, whose side fell to Germany in the last 16 at the Euro, has also made adjustments to his squad.
Goalkeeper Jan Mucha and winger Miroslav Stoch missed the cut, the latter after falling out with Kozak, Stanislav Sestak has retired from international football and several players are injured.
Kozak has called up two uncapped players in MSK Zilina winger Jakub Holubek and Dukla Prague holding midfielder Jakub Povazanec.
But the core of his starting XI is likely to remain unchanged, built around Fenerbahce centre-back Martin Skrtel, AC Milan midfielder Juraj Kucka and Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik.
“There were a lot of players in their thirties in the squad, so there is a generation problem awaiting us in the future,” said Kozak.
“Since the Euro there has not been a lot of time for experimenting (with new players), because there is immediately a big start against England.”