'What could possibly go wrong' ? Stirling , Hart and Kane - hahaha

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Expect a low-key start for Big Sam (By: Jon Black SL) - - (September 3rd 2016 )

Jon Black previews the pick of Sunday's World Cup qualifiers, including England's first game under Sam Allardyce.

The latest new era for England's national side begins in Slovakia on Sunday, where they take on the side considered their biggest threats in Group F as qualification for the 2018 World Cup begins.

Slovakia are a familiar rival for the Three Lions. It was against these opponents that Roy Hodgson's version huffed and puffed but failed to find a way through in Saint-Etienne, a 0-0 draw sending them into the knockout stages in a negative frame of mind which revealed itself in one of the worst performances they've ever produced in a major tournament.

For that, Hodgson paid the ultimate price but Sam Allardyce's first job will be to match his predecessor's enviable return in games such as this one. England were unbeaten in qualifying for Brazil 2014 and flawless on their way to France. Across the two that's 16 wins, four draws, 62 goals scored and just seven conceded, numbers which suggest odds-against quotes on Sunday have to be strongly considered.

Allardyce was not a universally popular choice and how England develop under him remains to be seen, but what seems near certain is that his side will be organised, hard-working and extremely difficult to beat. That's the mould on which he's built a decent reputation at the right level, although instilling an underdog spirit among the players deemed the best their nation has to offer won't be easy.

Even so, this approach should ensure that while another unbeaten qualification cannot be assured, England will qualify for the World Cup with little cause for alarm.

In that respect, we'll learn very little about Allardyce as England manager for some time.

For now, his premiere act has been to name a squad and it's one which carries few surprises. Theo Walcott deservedly returns having deservedly missed the Euros; Wayne Rooney remains captain; there is no place for the misfiring Ross Barkley, but Danny Drinkwater is in. All of it predictable, none of it particularly inspiring.

The standout name is of course that of Michail Antonio, who appears to have been selected to encourage those working their way through the ranks. The versatile West Ham man was playing non-league football not long ago and his inclusion is Allardyce's way of stamping his mark on a squad which almost selects itself.

It's all very familiar and those hoping for sweeping changes to be seen right away are going to be disappointed, even if England head straight to the top of Group F and are again among the easiest qualifiers.

Yet one thing we know Allardyce will not do is obsess over a winning streak. He's already spoken of the need to respect the value of a point and this is no time to abandon that attitude. While England's Euro 2016 campaign began with victory over their biggest rivals on paper, that alone won't convince Allardyce to go all out for victory and he certainly won't lose sleep over the prospect of less-than-positive headlines which might follow a less-than-exhilarating display.

What's more, there must be concerns around who is going to lead the line with Harry Kane out of sorts since a thoroughly disappointing Euros on a personal level. He'll find his feet at some stage but this game isn't an ideal platform for doing so, yet Allardyce will surely start with the Spurs man and England may therefore be lacking.

Jamie Vardy scored against Swansea last time out and would look more of a threat despite having previously appeared rusty, but with Rooney now considered a midfield option, Walcott having accepted that he's best on the wing and Daniel Sturridge the only other out-and-out striker in the squad, England may struggle for ideas against a side well versed in playing without the ball.

Slovakia caught Spain cold with a 2-1 victory in qualifying for the Euros, and you have to go back five years for the last time they lost by more than one at home. They've long been hard to beat and the draw which Allardyce is keen to value is a result his side may be forced to accept.

Whatever the outcome, goals will surely be in short supply and 4/7 under 2.5 isn't unreasonable. No goalscorer can be backed at 13/2, while it's hard to argue with the logic that if England are to win, 1-0 is the likely scoreline (5/1).

Clearly, we're heading into uncharted territory to some extent and caution is the best advice - not just for Allardyce and his players, but for us punters, too.

We can be more sure of what to expect from Northern Ireland but Michael O'Neill's progressive side may come unstuck against Czech Republic.

Will Grigg is a potential absentee here but the key factor is that hosts have warmed up with a convincing victory over Armenia during the week.

That prep-run gives them a definite edge and while Northern Ireland were magnificent en route to France and did well once there, this will be difficult as new Czech Republic coach Karel Jarolim bids to stamp his authority early.

Jarolim has to cope without the retired Petr Cech but has the required options in attack to break down this organised, hard-to-beat Northern Ireland side. What's more, 4/5 looks a really good price about them doing so.