Join Now for Free
Home » News » England squad named for first 2018 World Cup qualifier
England squad named for first 2018 World Cup qualifier

England squad named for first 2018 World Cup qualifier

Posted by Team England at 19:33 on Sunday 28 August 2016

England manager Sam Allardyce has named a 23-man squad for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

There is a first call-up for West Ham winger Michail Antonio, while Luke Shaw returns after a year-long absence through injury. Danny Drinkwater, Theo Walcott and Phil Jagielka are also recalled.

Speaking of Antonio's maiden selection, Allardyce said told TheFA.com: “I think he’s in outstanding form.

“This is another lad with a great journey – it’s a fantastic journey that he’s been on, from non-league to now an international call-up. He scored nine goals in his first season and he’s a terrific athlete, a good crosser and a goal-scorer.

“I’m looking forward to him coming, and looking forward to meeting everybody. Hopefully we will have a good few days’ preparation and get to know each other on the basis of trying to go and win in Slovakia.”

The Three Lions squad meets up at St. George's Park on Monday, ahead of facing Slovakia in Trnava on Sunday 4 September.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Have Your Say
Log in or Sign up to join the conversation

  • ???? How is this 'The Great New Era' ?  He's just picked most of the jokers that have just embarrassed us in the Euros !!  Hart, Henderson, Sterling ?? How many more caps are these average Joe's gonna amass before they realise they ain't good enough.  All it shows I guess is that we obviously don't have anyone else to pick !  That said, I expect we will win in Slovakia 1or 2 nil & everyone will think we will win the next World Cup.

    Good luck all the same Sam.

  • Thank God he hasn't ditched the saviour of England, Raheem Sterling.  And great that Rooney gets another chance after being so terribly unlucky not to be able to control a 5mph pass in the last England game.  I'm sorry, I hate (yes, hate) Raheem Sterling. And Joe Hart after the debacle in France?  What do these people have to do to get at least little punishment?  Oxlade Chamberlain?  Not the best but better than Walcott and Sterling surely.

  • I was expecting more from big Sam he made out he was going to ring the changes and bring in a new era, but as we see he picked the same muppets from the euros. Go on Sam now tell us Rooney is still going to lead us to glory. What a joke.

  • Big Sam is a lot different from post managers that we have had.He will have a plan A B and C,he will not have square holes and round pegs,he will not take injured players,Watch and learn from this very astute man,should have had him years ago.Go big Sam have every confidence in you to succeed.

  • We do have the players hope big Sam has the tactical know how that previous managers did not have. Let's get behind the squad and sam

  • Im okay with this squad. Would like to have seen Ox but I'm sure he will get his chance. It is good to get the bulk of the Euro squad together to regroup and move on as a group with the new foundation the Sam sets. We will see a true Sam Allardyce come the next squad in November.

  • Only two missing is oxlan and Barkley but sadly have no leaders and there not out there as the English game are not producing them.roony is the best of a bad bunch and he's quite or loss cannon but still our only world class player hoping big Sam can get the best from them and get us back to where we should be near the top end. Sadly I'm hopeful not a beliefer but wish Sam good luck as I think he will need it Ray Holt

  • Only positive aspect is the inclusion of Drinkwater who should have gone to the euros captain needs to be Gary Cahill cant see Rooney starting maybe 4-4/2 Forster, Walker Cahill Stones Shaw, Dier ,Drinkwater Lallana, Sterling, Kane Vardy next squad Benson and Hedges will be in.