England left it very late to give new manager Sam Allardyce a winning start, with Adam Lallana’s first international goal securing a 1-0 win in Slovakia.
The hosts played much of the second half with 10 men after Martin Škrtel’s stamp on Harry Kane earned the former Liverpool man a second yellow card.
But it was one of the Reds’ current crop who made the difference, beating Matúš Kozáčik after the four scheduled minutes of added time were up.
It was a huge relief for England and for Allardyce, who had seen a Theo Walcott goal ruled out for offside despite claims that the ball had come to him from a Slovakian defender.
What a time to score your first England goal! https://t.co/TCscyt677G
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 4, 2016
The abiding response after the game focused more on the result than the often-frustrating 90-plus minutes that preceded Lallana’s late strike.
The England international football team: Papering over more cracks than Solvite since 1966.
— David Hartrick (@DavidHartrick) September 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/janhopis/status/772489974902034433
Though a few were pleased for Lallana, who finally broke his international duck at the 27th time of asking.
https://twitter.com/kevinmccauley/status/772493057413578752
https://twitter.com/TintinnyTins/status/772492991713910784
There was a fair bit of schadenfreude directed at Kozáčik for his time-wasting antics.
Got to laugh at the Slovakia 'keeper, ballsing up like that in the time added on because of his histrionics.
— Cal Gildart (@calgildart) September 4, 2016
The first time that Kozacik had to do some goalkeeping instead of time wasting, and he fails miserably. Have that Slovakia!
— Jamie Dean (@McMilney) September 4, 2016
Football gods angry with #Kozacik for wasting time. Game would've been over if he hadn't wasted time. Instead he concedes a howler. #SLOENG
— Aaron Pires Mammoliti (@Aaron_PM) September 4, 2016
In the end it was a case of ‘meet the new England, same as the old England’.
THE FLAT POP OF A DEFLECTED GOAL IN ADDED TIME OF ADDED TIME: THIS IS ENGLAND!
— Billy Dunmore (@Dunmoreorless) September 4, 2016
Time for the cycle of optimism to begin again. We give it a week.
WE'RE GONNA WIN THE WORLD CUP!!!!!!!!!!
— Richie Driss: now available in all new “freelance” (@RichieDriss) September 4, 2016
We are going to win the World Cup!!!!!
— David Brightwell (@brighty1971) September 4, 2016
We're going to win the World Cup 🦁🦁🦁 #ENGSLO
— Callum Stebbing (@CallumStebbing) September 4, 2016
And, of course, hats off to Big Sam Allardyce, the hero who we might not need, but probably the one who we all deserve.
When England score an 90th min winner https://t.co/606MPXKOA6
— Chris Mayer (@chrismayerV1) September 4, 2016
THE ALLARDYCE ERA BEGINS
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) September 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/djuaicgknan/status/772493059762298880
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