Allardyce has immediate chance to one-up Hodgson vs Slovakia
England kick-off a new qualifying campaign and indeed a new era this Sunday, as Sam Allardyce takes charge of the Three Lions for the first time following the resignation of Roy Hodgson after a bitterly disappointing Euro 2016 exit. While the defeat at the hands of relative international minnows Iceland was the real nail in the coffin for Hodgson’s England, it was a stalemate with Slovakia that set up that tie to ensure Wales topped group B.
The two sides meet again just ten weeks on from said fixture and England will be out for some form of revenge against a side that played for the draw that would see them reach the knockout stages, only to be completely outclassed by Germany. The task for Allardyce, then, will be to break the resolve of a stubborn Slovakia defence where his inherited squad failed back in June, with the game likely to pan out in a similar vain.
While the fact that defeat for the underdogs this time out would have nowhere near the same ramifications it would have in France, Jan Kozak is still sure to play for a point that could prove pivotal in a group involving neighbours for both of these sides in the form of Slovenia and Scotland respectively. A 4-5-1 formation looks most likely from the hosts, with star man Marek Hamsik again the one to watch - earning a 7.25 rating from WhoScored.com at the Euros - and given the license to support makeshift frontman Andrej Duda as he did, albeit extremely sparingly, in Saint-Etienne. Michael Duris could, however, get the nod as a more familiar number 9, more capable of holding the ball up to allow for some respite for the Slovakia defence, with very few attacking options elsewhere.
Indeed, the absence of former Manchester City man Vladimir Weiss is a real blow after a solid Euro 2016 campaign (7.10 rating), while former Chelsea youngster Miroslav Stoch is also not in a Slovakia squad that has made a number of changes from the summer. That said, only two of the eight players in Kozak’s party - Jakub Holubek and Jakub Povazanec - that didn’t make the cut for France are in line to make their international debuts.
That figure is even fewer for Allardyce, who, like so many of his predecessors, has been reluctant to ring too many changes to a squad that has underachieved at major tournaments for years. Michail Antonio is the only player to receive a first call-up in the manager’s first squad, though the likes of Jagielka, Drinkwater, Walcott and Shaw have returned to the set-up having missed out on a place in France.
The return to fitness of the latter is perhaps the biggest boost to Allardyce outside of the return to form of Raheem Sterling, and the two - if partnered on the left flank - could represent England’s best chance of success, with neither having featured when these sides met in June. The Manchester City winger in particular has got off to a flying start this season under Pep Guardiola, with two goals and an assist helping him to the second highest rating of any Englishman, with a score of 7.98 enough to rank fifth in the Premier League after three matches.
It’s likely to be a much changed line-up from England this time out compared to the 0-0 draw back in June, with the left side of Allardyce’s first XI just one area that should see new faces come in. Elsewhere Wayne Rooney will surely return having kept his captain status under the new boss and been rested against Slovakia in France, though he is more likely to take up a more familiar, advanced role than he did in the summer, in support of a lone striker in either Kane or Vardy.
Rooney has had his critics in recent seasons but has made a bright start under Mourinho, with a goal and two assists playing off of new target man Zlatan Ibrahimovic for an impressive rating of 7.53. Eric Dier should be handed the holding role in midfield once more, with Alli, Henderson and Drinkwater competing for the spot alongside the Spurs man. If form is anything to go by, even at this early stage in the season, the Leicester man - harshly overlooked in the summer - is perhaps most deserving of a starting berth, with a rating of 7.19 in advance of Henderson (6.88) and Alli (6.57) after three league outings.
Indeed, on current form one would have to suggest that Drinkwater be given the opportunity to display his superb understanding with Jamie Vardy on the international stage. His sublime assist for the latter's solitary strike this season (vs Swansea last time out) represented the sixth time that the midfielder has set up a Vardy goal since the start of 2015/16. The Foxes frontman is enjoying a better start to the season than Kane, who unsurprisingly seems fatigued, though in truth both aren’t yet up to the speed they set to lead the scoring ranks in the previous campaign.
There are a number of decisions to be made by Allardyce then, as he aims to start an England tenure he has longed for for years with a win. With an away game in Slovakia likely to prove one of the Three Lions’ sterner tests in another favourable group - much like this time two years ago when England began their European qualifying campaign with a trip to Switzerland - three points would already set them on their way to another impressive points haul in the group. While the new manager knows that it is the national side’s dismal record at tournament level that he is tasked with improving, going one better than his predecessor in such a short space of time to beat Kozak's men would be the perfect start.
With just 13% of the total touches the last time these sides met coming in England’s third, Allardyce will be keen to lure the opposition out from their own half to create the space that this group of players desperately needs to thrive. Indeed, a departure from quite so much meaningless possession is key and the former Sunderland boss is not one for tiki-taka. As ever though, tempting the underdog to go for the jugular will be easier said than done.
Will England get off to a winning start under Sam Allardyce? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
