Wales stormed through to the knockout phase of their first UEFA EURO finals as they eliminated Russia and won Group B into the bargain.
No team in France had been as quick out the traps as Wales in their first two games and they were at it again in Toulouse, Gareth Bale forcing Igor Akinfeev into an early save. Come the 11th-minute mark they led as Joe Allen’s perfect ball sent Aaron Ramsey clear to calmly chip over the challenging Akinfeev and in.
If the Wales fans were joyful then, nine minutes later they reached new stratospheric heights of elation when Neil Taylor, who had not scored a competitive goal above England’s fifth tier – six years ago – was played in by a deflected Bale pass and poked the ball past Akinfeev at the second attempt. It could have been more before the interval, with Akinfeev denying Sam Vokes, preferred to Hal Robson-Kanu and Jonathan Williams up front with Bale.
At half-time Leonid Slutski tried swapping the Berezutski twins – having an unhappy 34th birthday – as Aleksei replaced Vasili. But there was little Russia could do to stem the Welsh tide, and Bale made it three with the outside of his boot. With England held by Slovakia, Chris Coleman’s side are, in the words their supporters constantly chanted, “top of the league”.
England are also through to the knockout phase as Group B runners-up after being held to a goalless draw by Slovakia, who will be hoping to join them as one of the four best third-placed sides.
Roy Hodgson elected to make six changes to his line-up, but his team began with a clear edge in Saint-Etienne, working openings with relative frequency. And although their efficiency tended to tail off in the final third, England could easily have struck more than once in the opening period.
Starting for the first time in France, Jamie Vardy was Slovakia’s chief tormentor, firing over in the early stages before losing out to Matúš Kozáčik in a one-on-one after racing clear on to a lofted pass. The Slovakia goalkeeper also had to parry a stinging effort from Adam Lallana following one of several Nathaniel Clyne forays down the right.
The Liverpool full-back nearly scored himself after the restart, bursting on to Daniel Sturridge’s through ball only to have his shot bounce off Kozáčik’s shoulder. Moments later, Vladimír Weiss tested Joe Hart at his near post, but the introduction of Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli helped England settle again.
The Tottenham man even had an attempt cleared off the line by Martin Škrtel seconds after coming on, yet that was as close as the Three Lions went. Unable once again to turn domination into goals, England thus had to settle for second behind Wales and a June 27 meeting with the Group F runners-up – the kind of certainty Slovakia possibly now crave.
