Only a freak set of scorelines would eliminate England from Euro 2016, tonight but even so, the changes Roy Hodgson is set to make are surprising to say the least.
No change is more surprising than the England manager's decision to drop captain Wayne Rooney, despite two impressive performances in midfield, so far in the tournament. The Guardian are reporting that Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who is yet to start in France and missed the last month of the Premier League season through injury, will replace the England captain in midfield.
Jack Wilshere will also be handed his first start, as part of a three man midfield alongside the aforementioned Henderson and Tottenham's Eric Dier. In defence, Spurs pair Kyle Walker and Danny Rose will be relegated to the bench, with Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand being handed their European Championship debuts.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling are the other three players who will begin the match against Slovakia watching from the sidelines, as Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge maintain their place in the side after winning the Three Lions their first three points of the championships, after they both scored following their half time introduction, against Wales on Thursday afternoon.
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With England needing just a point to avoid one of Europe's heavyweights in the round of 16, it's understandable that Hodgson would want to give some players a rest ahead of a bigger game, later in the week, but is the England manager taking too big of a risk with such wholesale changes against a Marek Hamsik inspired Slovakia team who will be looking to claim a major scalp in their final group game.
(H/T The Guardian)
Topics: Euro 2016, Football, England, Roy Hodgson