Sam Allardyce Reveals Starting XI For First Game In Charge Of England

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Sam Allardyce has resisted calls for massive upheaval in his England starting lineup for Sunday’s game against Slovakia, making just three changes to the XI which were beaten by Iceland in the first knockout round of Euro 2016, 90min reports.

England are still yet to win a knockout game in a tournament since the 2006 World Cup, with the defeat against Iceland spelling the end of the road for Roy Hodgson as manager of the Three Lions.

The former Bolton and West Ham boss named his first squad last week and has now revealed his first starting XI, nearly a full 36 hours before his side kick off their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Chris Smalling and Daniel Sturridge have been dropped to the bench after starting just one Premier League game between them so far this season, while Tottenham’s Dele Alli has paid the price for some indifferent performances since the end of last season.

In place of the trio come John Stones, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana as Allardyce looks to change things up a bit – while Joe Hart keeps his place in goal after both Fraser Forster and Jack Butland, who would both have pushed him for his place in the side, picked up injuries in recent weeks.

BREAKING: England XI to face Slovakia: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Stones, Rose, Dier, Henderson, Lallana, Rooney, Sterling, Kane. #SSNHQ

— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) September 2, 2016

Speaking ahead of the match, Lallana said:

“We definitely need to win on Sunday. We put the most pressure on ourselves to win games. We know we are a very talented group of lads and it’s been important to get some good training in this week.”

Full England Starting XI to Face Slovakia

Joe Hart; Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill, John Stones, Danny Rose; Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson; Adam Lallana, Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling; Harry Kane.