Wayne Rooney will be among a bunch of changes Roy Hodgson will make to England's starting XI for their final Group B game against Slovakia. With four points from their first two matches, a draw will guarantee England progression into the next round, and as a result, Hodgson is set to rest some of his key players for this match in Saint-Etienne.
Rooney is chief among those, with the captain given a breather after some outstanding displays in midfield for England in the first two matches. According to The Guardian, Jordan Henderson, who will feature for the first time in Euro 2016, if he gets the nod, will replace Rooney in midfield.
There will be other changes in midfield as well, with Jack Wilshere coming in for Dele Alli – that might have happened even if Hodgson had not decided to rest his players – with Eric Dier, so crucial to England's fortunes at the base of that midfield, set to keep his place in the starting XI.
Up front, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge will be rewarded for making such a positive impact in the dramatic 2-1 win over Wales, with Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling sitting on the bench. Kane was already expected to make way for Sturridge or Vardy, with Sterling another one who has failed to impress in this Euro 2016 so far.
Two players definitely set to be rested, though, will be the fullbacks Kyle Walker and Danny Rose. Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand will come in their place, with Hodgson hoping they can do the job required to give England the three points against Slovakia. Goalkeeper Joe Hart, however, is expected to keep his place in the XI, despite his mistake which allowed Gareth Bale to give Wales the lead in the last game.
While a draw will guarantee their place in Group B, England need a win to be absolutely certain of top place in the group. Slovakia are a threat to England in that regard, and with Marek Hamsik looking in great form, the English will know this will not be an easy game.
Coming off an impressive 2-1 win over Russia, Slovakia need a win to make sure of a place in the last 16, while they might also make it through with a draw, provided the result in the Russia vs Wales game goes their way.
The big starting XI poser for Slovakia manager Jan Kozak is who will lead the line for his team against England. Neither Michal Duris nor Ondrej Duda have convinced in that position, while Kozak also has the option of using the aerial strength of Adam Nemec. The team should otherwise be similar to the one that beat Russia, with a lot of emphasis on Martin Skrtel as well considering his know-how of English football, owing to his Liverpool connection.
Confirmed starting XI: England: Hart; Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand; Wilshere, Dier, Henderson; Lallana, Vardy, Sturridge.
Slovakia: Kozacik; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan; Pecovsky, Kucka; Mak, Hamsik, Weiss; Duda.
