Despite 29 attempts at goal, England had to settle for a draw in Saint- Etienne on Monday, consigning them to second place behind Wales in Group B and setting them on a quarter-final collision course with hosts France. In fact, Wales became the first ever debutant to advance to the knockout stage since 1996 when Croatia did it.
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“We wanted to come to this competition and really make a statement, put Welsh football on the map and show what we are capable of doing”.
“To finish top is a bonus for us”, Bale said. You just don’t know.
Being alongside Northern Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong as we described his country beating Ukraine was an experience I won’t forget. I still feel England have a big chance because when I look at the other teams, it gives me confidence we aren’t too far behind.
In the beginning, there was still hope for a better turn of events for Russia’s national football team.
England end the opening phase with five points, one behind Wales and one ahead of Slovakia.
“It was disappointing for us tonight”. He has had lots of chances in the three groups games – more than most – but his finishing hasn’t been great. Instead, it will meet Group F’s runner-up, with a game against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal now a possibility.
“We finished the game against Wales with Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge up front and people said that was positive”.
GARETH Bale has won the Champions League twice with Real Madrid but says Wales’ win over Russian Federation is on a par with anything he’s achieved in football.
TOULOUSE: Wales’ forward Gareth Bale shoots the ball past Russia’s defender Sergey Ignashevich. “I believe they can all score”.
After Lallana sent a shot wide from the edge of the area, Henderson had an angled effort charged down by left-back Tomas Hubocan.
Slovakia must now wait to see if it qualifies as one of four best third-place teams after its goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Matus Kozacik pulled off a string of saves to deny England.
The incident followed earlier, more serious trouble on the streets of Marseille and in the stadium between England and Russian Federation fans, which left both countries facing expulsion from the competition as violence threatened to spill over.
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.
England were left frustrated for a third game in a row as they struggled to get their scoring boots on.
Impartiality is vital in my job, but I have to admit to feeling desperately sorry for Birkir Saevarsson when his late own goal gave Hungary their equaliser.
“It has been attack versus defence in all three games and I never thought I’d see England dominate three games like we have done”.
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Since those Euro semifinals in 2008, which now seem like Russia’s high-water mark, it has posted one win from 12 tournament games, having failed to beat the likes of Greece, South Korea and Algeria.
