Match Summary

Russia Team

England Team

I suppose we should all be used to our England football team putting us through every emotion during a game by now, but it doesn't get any easier that is for sure.  Once again, an otherwise excellent performance was ruined by a late, late goal conceded, that cost us a vital, and deserved, win.

Roy Hodgson sprang a couple of selection surprises for the opening match of the Euro 2016 tournament, but from the first whistle his team certainly showed a lot of attacking purpose.  A nod down by Adam Lallana in the third minute reached Deli Alli, but he shot wide.  At the other end Russia attacked down the right and some desperate defending was needed to scramble the ball away.  The early signs showed that both defences looked a little vulnerable, but with England having the edge in attack.  On seven minutes great passing by Wayne Rooney to Kyle Walker, and then Lallana was given a fine chance.  He hit his shot well but straight at goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev who elected to punch the ball clear.  After just ten minutes the pattern of the game was developing with the pace fast and furious, and England pushing forward atery opportunity.

Rooney's slightly controversial role as a midfield general was working well and he was conducting the 'orchestra' with some sublime passing, bringing in both full-backs with precision.  Walker was having a lively game down the right and he combined well with Eric Dier to win a corner.  Harry Kane's cross was met by Chris Smalling but again the header was straight at the keeper.  Not sure why Kane takes all the corners, surely he would be much better utilised in the penalty box?  The Spurs striker then tried an ambitious long-range effort that sailed well over the crossbar.  At the other end a free-kick was met by an unchallenged Sergei Ignashevich, but once again the header was straight at Joe Hart.

On 17 minutes Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling combined but there was no-one on the end of Rose's excellent cross into the middle.  Rose then fluffed another chance of a cross but with 22 minutes gone Lallana really should have opened the scoring.  Fine play down the right set him up, unmarked, and with a clear shot at goal from ten yards out.  Unfortunately for England he dragged his shot wide of the left-hand post.  The England pressure continued and Sterling was put through and only a fine saving tackle by Igor Smolnikov stopped him getting a shot away.  Surely it was only a matter of time before one of these chances would be converted?  Kane did put the ball in the net on one occasion but was well offside.  Both sides were guilty of wasting excellent goal potential positions, especially England, but the pace was fast and the match was end to end, making it a good spectacle.

Just after the half-hour Rooney almost set up Alli, and then the skipper made a fabulous attempt from another good right-wing move.  The ball was controlled and volleyed by Rooney but again it was too close to Akinfeev, who again was able to two-fist it away.  Then, Kane's cross just needed a touch from someone, anyone, before, on 41 minutes, Rose zipped a cross into the box and again there was no touch from an England player that would have converted the chance.  England could so easily have been three or four goals to the good by now but at half-time, somehow, the struggling Russians were still in it, and that was worrying.

The start to the second half was not what England wanted as Russia kept possession well and put them on the back foot a little.  But after the first ten minutes the play was more and more in the Russian half.  Two England free-kicks came to nothing, although Rooney's shot looped on to the top of the net.  At the other end a couple of Russian corners were cleared and from another a header was sent wide.  Gary Cahill was the first player booked, ironic really, after some of the earlier Russian challenges.  On 63 minutes Russia's first clear chance as Fedor Smolov flashes a shot just wide with Hart groping.  At this point Russia were winning too many of the loose balls and both Lallana and Walker were not having the same impact as in the first half.  Then on 71 minutes England livened up again and Rooney had yet another clear chance.  After good play down the left, a cross was cleared but only to Rooney roaring into the area.  He placed his shot carefully but Akinfeev dived full length to somehow get a hand to the ball and direct it up and out via the crossbar.  Although Lallana had another go from the rebound the flag was already up for offside against him.  Oh, if only Rooney had smashed it instead of placed it!

Three minutes later though that miss was forgotten as England won another free-kick, this time centrally and right on the edge of the box.  Kane, Rooney and Dier stood over the ball and England caught everyone out, including their own fans, when it was Dier who stepped up to power a fine shot past Akinfeev.  The supporters erupted with delight and soon Kane was having another shot blocked as England sensed the kill.  Hodgson then made a slightly curious decision by replacing the outstanding Rooney with Jack Wilshere, but the Arsenal man soon got into the game and was unlucky with a couple of passes that only just missed their intended target.  James Milner then came on for Sterling and England looked comfortable in trying to see the game out.

Three minutes of added time started to tick down and in the second of those, disaster!  The Russians had shown little idea by way of attacks, apart from aiming balls into the big men in the box.  England had dealt with these well, but after clearing another corner the ball ran to Georgiy Shchennikov who clipped a tantalising cross to the middle.  With Chris Smalling and Cahill out of position it was easy for Vaseli Berezutskiy to outjump Rose and power a header back across goal towards the far post.  Sadly for England the ball dropped perfectly, over Hart, and into the far corner.  What a disappointment it was, and sad to say, more crowd trouble was triggered with the England supporters under attack from marauding Russian fans.  The lack of stewarding was very noticeable, something the authorities need to look at perhaps.

So the game ended on a downward note, but England had played well, and there were many good things about their play that should be honed, improved on and taken on to the next match, the vital all-British affair with Wales.  The fat lady is not singing yet, so onwards and upwards please.