Gareth Southgate’s team will look to take a giant stride towards next summer’s World Cup when England host Slovakia on Monday.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the previous five meetings between the two national sides.
Slovakia 1 England 2 – Tehelne Pole stadium, Euro 2004 qualifier, October 12, 2002
David Beckham celebrates England’s victory over Slovakia (Mike Egerton/Empics)
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England fell behind in the Bratislava rain as then-Middlesbrough striker Szilard Nemeth gave Slovakia the lead with a simple finish. But the visitors rallied after the break and a free-kick from skipper David Beckham drew them level before a predatory header from Michael Owen with just eight minutes left on the clock sealed a comeback victory.
England 2 Slovakia 1 – Riverside Stadium, Euro 2004 qualifier, June 11, 2003
Michael Owen heads in the winner for England (Phil Noble/PA)
Again Eriksson’s men found themselves 1-0 down and again it was Owen, wearing the armband in Beckham’s absence, who would turn things around. Vladimir Janocko’s free-kick drifted over David James to give Slovakia the lead in Middlesbrough but Owen, partnered in attack with a teenage Wayne Rooney, levelled with a penalty before once again heading a winner.
England 4 Slovakia 0 – Wembley, friendly, March 28, 2009
Wayne Rooney celebrates with his England team-mates after scoring against Slovakia (Sean Dempsey/PA)
Fabio Capello’s side cantered to victory as they warmed up for World Cup qualifiers with a comfortable win in London. Emile Heskey opened the scoring early on with the penultimate strike of his seven-goal international career before a late Rooney brace and a Frank Lampard goal sealed an emphatic win for the hosts.
England 0 Slovakia 0 – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Euro 2016 group stage, June 20, 2016
RESULTS:
Wales win Group B and qualify, along with England.#SVKENG #RUSWAL pic.twitter.com/9bAXsqQ7v9— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 20, 2016
A goalless stalemate in Group B saw both teams progress to the knockout stages. The draw in Saint-Etienne was seen as a triumph for Slovakia but was a poor showing for England, who finished behind Wales as a result of only being able to take a point as Roy Hodgson’s side failed to break through a resolute defence.
Slovakia 0 England 1 – City Arena, World Cup 2018 qualifier, September 4, 2016
FULL TIME: Slovakia 0-1 #ThreeLions
Lallana's first #England goal see off Slovakia in dramatic circumstances! pic.twitter.com/TkIWy1tWVT— England (@England) September 4, 2016
The Trnava encounter proved to be Sam Allardyce’s first and only match as England boss. The recently-appointed manager had looked as though he would have to settle for a deeply uninspiring stalemate as the hosts held firm following Martin Skrtel’s sending-off for a nasty stamp on Harry Kane. However, Adam Lallana picked a perfect moment to break his international duck deep into injury time to start Group F with a win.
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