SIX CHANGES IT IS!
Roy’s decided to mix & match for game 3.
Our starting eleven to face Slovakia:
Hart, Clyne, Cahill (c), Smalling, Bertrand, Dier, Henderson, Wilshere, Lallana, Vardy, Sturridge.
Fairly unusual for England to field three left-footed players.
The Evening Standard naturally flies the flag with upbeat quotes from Jamie Vardy, who watched the England rugby victory and the weekend and wants to give fans back home a great summer of sport.
Vardy may find that Sturridge takes longer to give him the ball than Mahrez does.
Can Vardy & Sturridge be a good pair? They’re more likely to both score than they are to become a good pair, from what I’ve seen so far.
Why? Because Sturridge needs multiple touches to feel part of the game. While Vardy only needs a goal to feel part of the game.
At moment s like this I’m as patriotic as the next man.
But we all know that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel – and the sports editor.
Is Wilshere-Dier-Henderson a midfield?
Is tonight the moment when the manager should be finding that out?
My best guess: Slovakia will play neat football and surprise England.
But we’ll scrape a win & finish top of the group.
Another night of substitutes scoring late goals?
PS. The Spanish ref is card-happy, so watch his hands.