Slovakia v England preview: Sam Allardyce takes charge of Three Lions for first time

By Oliver Yew

Sam Allardyce takes charge of England for the first time as the Three Lions start their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign in Slovakia on Sunday.

Allardyce took charge after Roy Hodgson resigned following England's disastrous Euro 2016 campaign and he becomes the country's 14th full-time manager.

And he will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the last eight managers, who all won their first game.

England's Dele Alli updates us on life under new manager Sam Allardyce

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England travel to Slovakia fresh from facing Jan Kozak's side in France this summer, when they drew 0-0 in Saint-Etienne in their final group game.

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Allardyce has made three changes to the England team that lost 2-1 to Iceland at Euro 2016.

Announcing his team 48 hours before the match, Allardyce has handed starts John Stones, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana with Chris Smalling, Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli dropped.

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England team to face Slovakia (4-2-3-1): Hart; Walker, Cahill, Stones, Rose; Dier, Henderson; Lallana, Rooney, Sterling; Kane.

Fit-again Luke Shaw withdrew from the England camp and returned to Manchester United as a precautionary measure, but the remaining 22 players all travelled out to Slovakia on Saturday.

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England have won three of their four previous internationals against Slovakia, most recently drawing 0-0 at Euro 2016.

In that match, England had 29 shots on goal (inc blocks) compared to four by Slovakia. The 29 attempts were the most in a match without scoring under Hodgson.

Image: Marek Hamsik is one of Slovakia's key players

Slovakia have scored just twice in four previous internationals against England, failing to score in the last two meetings against them.

The only England manager to not win his first game was Sir Alf Ramsey in 1963.

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View from Slovakia: All you need to know about England's opponents

The Three Lions have won their last 12 qualifying matches for tournaments, winning all 10 games on the road to Euro 2016. England's last qualifying defeat came in October 2009 against Ukraine (W22 D9).

Slovakia have won just two of their last eight competitive internationals (D2 L4).

Key battle: Hamsik v Dier

Marek Hamsik v Eric Dier: The key battle when Slovakia host England in World Cup qualifier

England have not lost back-to-back internationals since June 2014 at the World Cup.

Slovakia have lost only once in their last 14 internationals contested at home (W10 D3).

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