Many are beginning to write off the pre-tournament fourth favourites following an uninspiring group stage where they drew with a weak Russian side, scraped victory against Wales and failed to beat Slovakia.
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Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor also scored in Wales’ easy win in Toulouse against a limp Russian side whose campaign has been tainted by their roughhouse fans. The team has missed the chance to play its last-16 game in Paris, near its training base.
I called for Vardy and Sturridge to start against Slovakia – which happened, but with Sturridge on the right – and they struggled to make an impact. “It would be nice if we could start with that on Monday”. He’s the manager, it’s his decision, not my decision, and I have to respect that.
“As a nation geographically we are small, but if you judge us by passion, you could say we were a continent tonight”, Wales Coach Chris Coleman said. But, football-wise, he’s the best I’ve ever played with. They won’t be fearful of what lies ahead, and for all the grumbling of the last few days, we shouldn’t be either. “I hope that we do that”.
Portugal are the most formidable potential opponent, with Iceland, Hungary and Austria also in the running for second spot in the group.
Hodgson knows there will be less space versus Iceland than there would have been against Portugal and expects England will need to be patient once again, while showing more creative spark in the final third.
Wales came into the competition bursting with confidence. That’s another good thing about the timing of the game. “To have 115 caps for England is something really special”.
“That’s something we haven’t really been able to do in the three games”.
But England was almost caught out when Chris Smalling failed to control the ball properly with his chest as he made an attempted back-pass, forcing keeper Joe Hart to scramble to the ball to thwart the danger. Wales gave him plenty of reason.
The English know the pitfalls of failing to top their group at a major tournament.
Left free on the left-hand side of the penalty area with only Akinfeev to beat, his first shot hit the goalkeeper but he made no mistake with the second.
Group F’s final matches are played on Wednesday.
Hodgson made as many as six changes to his team for the Slovakia game, resting star performers like Wayne Rooney, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose.
Wales’ lead was doubled shortly after, as Swansea full-back Neil Taylor found himself in the box and took two bites of the cherry to score his first ever global goal.
He fired over early on, then had his shot blocked by goalkeeper Matus Kozacik in a one-on-one after winning a sprint against Slovakia captain Martin Skrtel.
And only a fine tackle from right-back Peter Pekarik denied Sturridge at the near post in the opening 10 minutes.
A glance at the statistics proves that England dominated the game.
Slovakia are strong on the counter-attack as Hrosovsky pointed out, combining the pace of wingers Robert Mak and Vladimir Weiss with the raw ability of Marek Hamsik.
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It remains a complicated picture for Wales who will not discover their second-round opponents for another 24 hours, but the camp are in relaxed mood after spending a day with their families in Toulouse following the Russian Federation rout. He was a constant menace but the pressure came to nothing.
