Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker link up nicely on the right after a quick throw but the cross is well cut out at the front post. Sam Allardyce will be happy with this start. 

Raheem Sterling wide on the right, Adam Lallana on the left, Wayne Rooney playing pretty deep in midfield in the opening exchanges. A free role, I think you'd call it. Danny Rose wins a corner.

Image source, Reuters

Under way! Lovely pitch, lovely weather, lovely ground. Now it's down to the performance. 

Terry Butcher
Ex-England captain at Stadion Antona Malatinského for 5 live Sport

Image source, PA

John Stones is wearing the number six today, the Bobby Moore shirt. That's the number normally worn by the defender who'll intercept, see openings and pass. 

Hopefully Stones will be able to feel comfortable on the ball and he may even develop into something of a defensive midfielder.

Big Sam appears from the dressing room just in time for the national anthem and joins in in fine style.

As ever the England fans beat the backing track to the end. They cannot keep time. Ever. 

Image source, Reuters

Slovakia: Kozacik, Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan, Mak, Gregus, Pecovsky, Hamsik, Svento, Duris. Subs: Novota, Gyomber, Kubik, Kiss, Povazanec, Pich, Sylvestr, Pauschek, Stetina, Dubravka.

England: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Stones, Rose, Henderson, Dier, Sterling, Rooney, Lallana, Kane. Subs: Heaton, Smalling, Walcott, Sturridge, Jagielka, Clyne, Drinkwater, Vardy, Alli, Antonio, McCarthy.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Blinding sun greets the teams, England all in red. A hearty reception from the England fans. 

Image source, Reuters

Here come the teams out in the tunnel. Joe Hart is noticeably calmer and quiter than at his tubthumping best. Or worst.

Wayne Rooney looks very focused and cool at the head of the queue. 

A cracking display of falconry out on the pitch pre-match. I saw a great one once at Notts County, Boxing Day 1998. Maybe 1997.

Image source, Reuters

Terry Butcher
Ex-England captain at Stadion Antona Malatinského for 5 live Sport

Image source, Reuters

Raheem Sterling and John Stones are in the best possible place and will have the pleasure of training under one of the best coaches around in Pep Guardiola. And that should only benefit England.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Trnava

All very polite inside Trnava's City Arena - even applause when England captain Wayne Rooney's name is announced. Not exactly "Welcome To Hell".

A very healthy band of away fans are in the ground following England - it looks like a wonderful sunny evening too. 

Image source, PA

England boss Sam Allardyce told ITV: "We're looking forward to the game. Hopefully the lads give a good performance and try to win. 

"It looks like Slovakia will be a little more defensive [than they were in their Euro 2016 meeting]. It may be a case of having to break down a rigid defensive unit. Hopefully we'll take our chances. At this level of football, you have to take one in every two opportunities.

"I don't need to tell Wayne Rooney how to play. I'd like to see him assist or score a goal tonight if he can."

Sam Allardyce admits he's a little nervous in his pre-match interview, and he expects a defensive Slovakia side in his way. We shall see soon.

Image source, Getty Images

Alison Maynard: Same old same old. Allardyce is putting out over half of the lot who failed against Iceland. Another failure approaches.

Alex Rosling: To be fair, it's probably the best team we could field. Still disappointed that Carroll or Defoe aren't in the team though.

Josh Ravenscroft: Need younger faces in the XI, so it's one team playing together for as long as possible..

Northern Ireland are hungry to reach another big tournament after getting to the Euro 2016 finals, says Chris Baird.

Michael O'Neill's side embark on their World Cup qualifying campaign away to the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Derby defensive midfielder Baird recently called time on his NI career, but backs the team for more success.

"They have a taste of it now and will want to continue that and progress. Hopefully we can qualify again and I don't see why not," said Baird.

"It is a big ask," added 34-year-old Baird, who was capped 79 times for his country.

"We never get it easy and we always get some big team in there. We did it in the last campaign and you never know in football what will happen."

Image source, AP

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Trnava

Some relief for the players of Slovakia and England as a large shadow starts to fall over the pitch as they warm up in searing heat - but no escape from the deafening noise of the locals' favourite "Europop" blaring over the City Arena's PA system.

We all hope for 'some atmosphere', that's the least we expect! 

Just half an hour to go now until a new era gets under way for Sam Allardyce and England. 

Image source, Rex Features

BBC Radio 5 Live
Lukas Vrablik, Slovakian football writer, at Stadion Antona Malatinského for 5 live Sport

Slovakian confidence should be high but there have been a lot of problems around this squad, including injuries to some key players. I think there are so many problems that expectations are not high and it might be hard for them to match England. 

Only the Slovak fans who watch the Premier League regularly will have an idea about Sam Allardyce. We do know he has never coached a big team. 

This game should be sold out and it's probably Slovakia's match of the year. I expect home advantage to play a role and there will be some atmosphere.

On current form - very, very recent form - you'd have to say Raheem Sterling was England's most exciting attacking outlet wouldn't you?