Ahead of Sam Allardyce’s maiden game as Three Lions boss, a job he so coveted, Coral football experts have picked out some top Slovakia v England tips for punters to keep an eye on come Sunday.
After a disappointing few years under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United, Wayne Rooney appears to have removed the shackles that were inhibiting his game, and already has two assists and a goal to his name this Premier League season under Jose Mourinho.
England’s all-time leading goalscorer will be keen to repay the faith Allardyce has shown him by naming him captain, with a big performance in Trnava. Rooney scored seven in Euro 2016 qualification and in England’s last win over the Slovaks Rooney netted twice.
The soon-to-be Man Utd top scorer is 5/1 with Coral to score first in the Three Lions’ first World Cup qualifier.
In the last two encounters between the nations, Slovakia have failed to get on the scoresheet. Combined with the fact that England have never been beaten by the Central European outfit, a 21/10 punt on the Three Lions beating the Slovaks to nil looks good value.
If Slovakia go with the same forward line they did at Euro 2016, Allardyce’s defenders will be in for quiet night. The pair consisting off Adam Nemec and Michal Duris have scored just 10 international goals since 2006 and shouldn’t trouble England.
The Three Lions are unbeaten in 32 qualification group games, an impressive run that stretches back to 2009.
In the history of the fixture, England have averaged two goals a game, while in Slovakia’s last five match-ups, the Martin Skrtel led nation have finished three without finding the back of the net.
Neither side have had particularly porous defences of late, but with Allardyce’s outfit possessing near unmatched firepower, expect the Three Lions to grab a win under a total of 2.5 goals at 11/4.
England can call upon a full fit outfield squad keen to dazzle after a disappointing European Championship campaign. Big Sam is famed for being able to win individual matches as seen with his miraculous relegation escape with Sunderland, and can draw up a gameplan to defeat top opposition.
International management could play to the former Black Cats’ strengths, so expect a strong showing in Slovakia.