With both sides notching 2-1 wins in their matchday two battles, Group B is delicately poised for a final day winner takes all match.
If England win, they will qualify top of the group following their win over the Welsh. Should Slovakia emerge victorious, they will have to wait and see if Wales beat Russia or not to learn their fate.
A draw should see both sides qualify, as the third-placed team with highest points differential will advance from four of the six groups. Both will want to win and finish top, however.
Failure here is not an option for either side, as a loss could see them unceremoniously dumped from the tournament.
Key battle – Marek Hamsik vs Wayne Rooney
Experience and class. Patience and intelligence. Both of these men are attack-minded midfielders, and both are crucial to their sides when they are on song. Rooney, Englands man with 50 goals, epitomises the hard-working English footballer. The Manchester United man has been with the national team for over a decade now, and brings a whole lot to his side.
Hamsik reminded us all of his class with a man of the match performance against Russia, a game in which he scored and assisted. Rooney pulled the strings in the midfield for England, helping to ensure that the second half and the game were won by the Three Lions. Hamsik’s pace may be the definitive factor in this matchup as Rooney has not got any quicker with age.
Team News
With neither side sweating on players’ fitness or losing personnel due to yellow cards, expect the only changes to be enforced due to lack of form. For Slovakia, this means that the same side that defeated Russia 2-1 should take the field against England on Tuesday.
For the English, the much maligned Raheem Sterling will drop to the bench, and Harry Kane should also join him on the pine. Both players have looked as if their exertions for club have proven to be too much for them in Europe. Supersub saviours against Wales Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy are capable replacements.
It will be criminal if Hodgson does not start the dynamic duo, who have made such an impact in their cameos at the tournament so far. He hinted in his prematch interviews that this would be the case, but his lack of bravery has often been criticised by fans.
Head-to-Head
England have bested Slovakia in each of their previous three clashes, with a 2009 4-0 win their largest winning margin. Previously they had two 2-1 victories over the same opposition in Euro 2004 qualifying.
Previous Meeting
Their latest and greatest win over Slovakia was a 4-0 victory back in 2009. In that game Rooney scored a brace, with the other scorers one Emile Heskey and Frank Lampard. The assists that day came from none other than English legends Steven Gerrard and David Beckham.
Prediction
With the usual lofty hopes of a nation desperate for success, England have a whole lot of pressure to do the business here. Slovakia have been looking forward to this encounter since learning they would be facing England in Group B, and they will relish their underdog status in this match. England should win this one – even if Hamsik fires for the Slovaks, the Three Lions have the better team. As long as Hodgson is not afraid to bench Kane and Sterling, the staring England team should have plenty of firepower to ensure they put away their opposition.
England 3 Slovakia 1
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