Substitute Daniel Sturridge stabbed home a dramatic victor in stoppage time to steer England towards a 2-1 win over Wales and top spot in their Euro 2016 group.
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Sturridge came on alongside Jamie Vardy as part of an inspired double-substitution as, for the first time ever in a major finals, England came from behind at the interval to win after Gareth Bale’s free-kick had put Wales in front.
Bale said: “It’s disappointing but I’m massively proud of everyone”. Their goal meant it was pushed on to me a bit, but it was always in our thoughts to bring on Vardy and Sturridge, and then Jack Wilshere or Marcus Rashford when we were looking for a goal.
Wales plays Russian Federation in its final game on Monday in Toulouse while group leader England takes on Slovakia in Saint-Etienne.
“Obviously I got a bang on it and needed to take precaution, and I don’t need to risk it with hopefully a few more games”, he said. We keep fighting all the way, we’re still in the thick of things’. “The fans have been incredible, and we’ll keep fighting to try to qualify”.
Wales boss Chris Coleman made three changes, with fit-again goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey starting, but it was unchanged England who squandered a golden early chance as Raheem Sterling connected with Adam Lallana’s cross but could only blaze over the crossbar.
“A point for us would have fantastic”.
“It is one of the lowest moments I’ve had when we’ve come that close”. So to lose like that is gut-wrenching. “I will be trying my hardest in training and we will see in the next game”.
The wind will have been knocked from their sails for now – but with modest expectations to meet, an impassioned set of fans roaring from the stands and an admirable clarity of objective they still look a good bet for the knockout phase.
‘We kept probing and got the win in the end, we showed a lot of character today.
“It was gut-wrenching for the players and our supporters”, said Coleman of Sturridge’s victor in the 92nd minute of the match. We have to take care of business ourselves.
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Chris Coleman conceded that the “Battle of Britain” occasion may have got to Wales, causing them to rush their passes and cede possession too often. ‘We think he’s going to be all right. Hodgson, his side trailing to Gareth Bale’s long-range, first-half free-kick, had boldly flung on Sturridge and Jamie Vardy at the interval with both strikers scoring as his side kickstarted their campaign by vaulting to the top of the group.
