England defeated Slovakia 1-0 with Adam Lallana scoring a last-minute goal.
England’s John Stones
Manchester City defender John Stones had a superb game for England as new boss Sam Allardyce started his reign with a late 1-0 victory over Group F rivals Slovakia.
In a game very reminiscent of the 0-0 draw with Slovakia at the European Championships, England struggled to break down the hosts despite completely bossing possession and territory.
Martin Skrtel’s red card just before the hour mark meant it turned into a game of defence versus attack, and Liverpool forward Adam Lallana finally broke his England duck with a last-minute winner.
England’s John Stones
Lallana will no doubt grab the headlines after scoring his first goal in 27 caps for his nation, yet it was City defender Stones who was without doubt England’s outstanding player over the 90 minutes.
| Aerial Duels Won | Interceptions | Effective Clearances | Touches | Pass-accuracy | Key Passes | Take-ons | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Stones | 2 | 3 | 5 | 92 | 93.3% | 2 | 2 | 90 |
As per the table above, the former Everton centre-back was superb in decision making on the ball and from a defensive perspective he was all-but faultless over the course of the 90 minutes.
Slovakia managed just one effort in goal in the entire game, and that was largely due to England playing well as a defensive unit and both Gary Cahill and Stones denying their opponents space in the final third.
England’s John Stones in action
Stones posted an impressive two aerial duels won, three interceptions and five effective clearances though it was his work in possession which really stood out – taking 92 touches and completing 93.3% of his intended passes.
Towards the end of the game the City defender often burst through and joined the attack, contributing with two chances created via key passes and an unrivalled two successful take-ons.
Many have questioned Stones’ ability over the past 12 months, but from his short time at City he is already looking a more assured player and his decision-making thus far has been pretty much spot on.
Manchester City’s John Stones
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
