Sam Allardyce’s solely England XI vs Slovakia and what occurred to these gamers

As England charge into the Euro 2024 knockout stages, let’s rewind to a previous clash with Slovakia.

The Three Lions are set to battle it out with Slovakia in today’s round of 16 tie (Sunday, 5pm UK time), aiming to secure a spot in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals over in Germany. England fans may not remember but the team did face Slovakia in a tense World Cup qualifier in 2016, reports the Mirror.

Back then, Sam Allardyce had freshly taken the reins from Roy Hodgson, tasked with restoring pride to the national team – a mission that turned sour as his tenure lasted a mere 67 days.

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That single match under Allardyce saw him replaced by Gareth Southgate, who has since steered the team through an impressive 98 games. We’re diving into the line-up from that nail-biting 1-0 victory over Slovakia to find out where those players are now.

Joe Hart

Between the sticks from 2010 to 2017, Joe Hart was England’s go-to goalie and Manchester City’s rock-solid number one until Pep Guardiola’s arrival.

During the 2016 face-off, Hart had a relatively easy ride, bar one “poor clearance” that got Slovakian supporters on their feet.

Fast forward, and the former England shot-stopper has just hung up his gloves after a trophy-laden stint at Celtic, bagging three league titles, two League Cups, and a pair of Scottish Cups.

Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker, the starting right-back for Allardyce, was already spending most of the match on the attack rather than defence.

Now, he’s a mainstay in the England squad and is known for his speed and skill on the right side of the pitch. After this qualifying campaign, Walker left Tottenham and signed with Manchester City in a £25million deal – where he currently plays his club football.

Walker has been part of an England squad that finished runners-up in Euro 2020 and reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. He still regularly starts for England and will be a no-brainer at full-back for Southgate in this year’s Slovakia game.

Gary Cahill

At the time of the Slovakia match, Gary Cahill was a solid choice at centre-half for Chelsea, winning two league titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups, one League Cup and two Europa League trophies.

He had a relatively easy night against Slovakia in 2016 but has since retired from professional football. He moved from Chelsea to Crystal Palace and then to Bournemouth, before leaving the club and announcing his retirement back in 2022.

His last appearance for England was in 2018 in a 1-0 group stage defeat to Belgium at the World Cup, and spent the rest of the tournament on the bench before the squad exited in the semi-finals in a 2-1 defeat in extra-time to Croatia.

John Stones

John Stones demonstrated his knack for advancing upfield from the back four during England’s 2016 match against Slovakia, a skill he has honed during his time with Manchester City.

Stones transferred from Everton to Etihad in the summer of 2016 and has been under Guardiola’s direction ever since, becoming a stalwart in midfield for his club and a reliable centre-half for England.

He has started all three games in Euro 2024 at the back and is expected to be called upon by Southgate once more.

Danny Rose

Danny Rose made his England debut in the same year as the Slovakia game and has earned 29 caps for his country. Despite being only 33, Rose has played some of his best football with Tottenham and is currently without a club.

He last played for Watford after joining on a free transfer from Spurs in 2021 – but was let go by the club in September 2022 and hasn’t signed with another club since.

With numerous loans throughout his career and a record of 11 goals and 29 assists across all competitions, it seems unlikely that Rose will be returning to the pitch anytime soon.

Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson may not have shone in the Slovakia game under Allardyce, but his performances for Liverpool have made him a favourite of Southgate’s for inclusion in the midfield.

Liverpool legend Jordan Henderson, who has played over 500 times for the Reds and lifted both the Premier League and Champions League trophies, has been left out of the England squad for Euro 2024. The 81-cap midfielder, now playing at at Ajax, has seen his form dip – likely contributing to his omission.

Eric Dier

Despite being a stalwart in the England setup with 49 caps and three goals, Eric Dier finds himself out of this year’s squad.

The defensive powerhouse, who made over 350 appearances for Tottenham before a loan move to Bayern Munich, didn’t managed to secure a spot despite playing for one of Germany’s top clubs. He did at least, though, secure himself a permanent switch to the Allianz Arena.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling, a key figure for England and previously Manchester City under Southgate, was also overlooked for the Euro 2024 squad. Despite boasting an impressive record of 82 caps, 20 goals, and 27 assists for England, his switch to Chelsea seems to have cost him his place.

Sterling had an impressive record with City, boasting four Premier League titles, five League Cups, one FA Cup and two Community Shields. However, since his departure in 2022, he hasn’t added to his trophy cabinet.

His latest appearance for England was in the 2-1 defeat to France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Who would you start for England in their round of 16 game against Slovakia? Let us know in the comments section.

Wayne Rooney

During Allardyce’s brief tenure as England coach, Wayne Rooney was nearing the end of his international career. Making his debut at just 17 in 2003, Rooney racked up 120 appearances and netted 53 goals for England.

He hung up his boots in 2021, a staggering 19 years after his first outing for Everton in 2002. Rooney was a reliable striker for England, participating in six international tournaments and reaching the quarter-finals twice – in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

Adam Lallana

Between 2014 and 2020, Adam Lallana was a fan favourite at Liverpool but failed to make a significant impact for England following his 2013 debut. With only three goals from 34 appearances in attacking midfield, his international record is less than stellar.

After leaving Liverpool for Brighton in 2020, he recently returned to Southampton, where his career began, this summer.

Harry Kane

Even those new to football will recognise the name Harry Kane. Not only is he England’s top scorer, but he also wears the captain’s armband.

Since his debut in 2015, Kane has netted 64 goals in 94 matches and is currently the leading striker for England under Southgate’s management.

Kane bid farewell to his long-standing club, Tottenham Hotspur, in 2023 and made a move to Bayern Munich in a whopping £76m transfer last summer. With a total of 559 appearances, Kane has scored an impressive 351 goals and provided 89 assists.

He is set to continue spearheading England at Euro 2024 in Germany as they gear up to face Slovakia today.