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England roll new dice with Allardyce
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
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.”
ALLI, STURRIDGE, SMALLING LEFT OUT
England manager Sam Allardyce will drop Dele Alli, Daniel Sturridge and Chris Smalling for Sunday’s game.
Alli started three of England’s four matches at the Euros, while Sturridge and Smalling also contributed to a lacklustre tournament from Hodgson’s team.
Although that trio have been axed by Allardyce, he has still kept faith with eight of the team that lost against Iceland.
