Hodgson makes half a dozen changes, six when he needs it? but will he roll a

FOR the last England manager to lead the national team here, Saint-Etienne represented the beginning of the end. Glenn Hoddle started to lose the dressing room with his treatment of David Beckham after that dramatic defeat by Argentina, compounded the situation by publishing the inside story on England’s 1998 World Cup and lost just about everyone else months later with his misguided, deeply offensive views on the disabled.

It would not be Roy Hodgson’s style to repeat the sins of his predecessor, but he appears to be planning an almighty gamble for what is a vital European Championship encounter against Slovakia this evening. It is a gamble that, because of the six changes he is preparing to make, could prove pivotal for Hodgson, too.

Omitting Wayne Rooney would seem very bold indeed when the result of tonight’s game could determine how challenging the road ahead proves for England in this tournament.

Thanks to the poorly timed words of Greg Dyke, the game had already taken on an extra dimension.

The loose cannon who currently occupies the office of the chairman of the Football Association went on the BBC yesterday morning to outline what is expected of the 69-year-old if he wants to keep his job.

Dyke will not have any say in the decision — he is standing down this summer — but he suggested that semi-finals or a quarter-final loss to a decent team with a decent display and Hodgson might well be allowed to continue. Anything less, however, and he will be toast.

Privately, Hodgson is said to be fuming about the timing of Dyke’s comments. Publicly, he was more sanguine.

‘I don’t decide what other people do or what other people say,’ he said. ‘Do you think I should decide on what my boss does? The fact is my boss will do what my boss wants to do and I will, as an employee, work as an employee until such time as I’m no longer needed as an employee.’

But the extra pressure Dyke has planted firmly on Hodgson’s shoulders does not appear to have deterred him from the approach he has in mind for a potentially dangerous Slovakia side at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Hodgson was actually reminded yesterday that it was because of England’s failure to win their group in 1998 — a consequence of losing to Romania in their second game — that they ended up with opponents as formidable as Argentina in the last 16.

Hodgson acknowledged that winning the group would mean facing a thirdplaced team in Paris on Saturday, and should therefore make life easier. Mess up, and it could be Spain or Germany in the last 16.

But he also hinted he has to balance that against the need to rest one or two players before the serious business of knockout football begins.

Slovakia are a good team, and not just because they bettered England in managing to put two goals past Russia. They also beat Spain in qualification and matched Hodgson’s men by beating Germany in a friendly.

That makes it a little concerning that he could make six changes to the team which started against the Welsh.

It will come as no surprise to see Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy selected ahead of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, given how well they performed after coming off the bench at the start of the second half against Wales.

It also makes a bit of sense to replace Dele Alli with Jack Wilshere, given that the young Tottenham midfielder has played an awful lot of football this season and was beginning to look jaded towards the end of the last game.

Wilshere might also add finesse to England in the central areas and thereby help Hodgson satisfy the standards being set by the FA hierarchy.

But a further reshuffle is being mooted, with Jordan Henderson replacing Rooney and Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand coming in for Kyle Walker and Danny Rose in both of the full-back positions.

Henderson and Wilshere are talented players, but whether this is the game to dispense with Rooney’s leadership remains to be seen.

There is also a potential risk in changing a back four that still needs time to gel into a unit capable of dealing with the stronger sides here in France.

But Hodgson insisted last night that the focus remains on winning the game, whatever alterations he makes.

He was asked specifically about

Wilshere and the need to give him more game time. Let’s not forget, the England manager had singled him out as a player of unique ability; a ‘special’ talent who passes the ball better than any other Englishman at Euro 2016.

‘He and a lot of the players haven’t played or started games, but they are all looking pretty sharp in training, so I don’t have any fears over the sharpness of players,’ said Hodgson.

‘Obviously, had we not needed to win this game, I don’t think there would be any discussion about making Fresh blood: Hodgson is expected to ring the changes against Slovakia tonight, but stressed the importance of winning the match changes. But as it is, I have to think a lot more carefully because we have to win the game and I don’t want to be accused of not taking the game seriously enough by making changes that people don’t understand.

‘All the players are capable of coming into this team and helping us win the match’.

But Hodgson also recognised the threat Slovakia might yet pose.

He added: ‘As a team, we certainly think Slovakia are very dangerous going forward. They have got a front line and, although I didn’t want to single him out, Marek Hamsik does need singling out because he is an exceptional player.

‘I think we go into this game well prepared, but we also go into it knowing that we are playing an opponent who, if we aren’t careful, could cause us lots of problems.

‘If they do and we don’t get the result we want, then we will have made life more difficult for ourselves.’

Judging by what Dyke has said, it could be more damaging still.