Match Summary

England Team

Wales Team

The match dubbed 'The Battle of Britain' turned out to be a cracking game with an explosive ending, with a final result that sees England top of the group.  There was a lively start with both sides quickly settling into their game plans.  Wales defending deeply and looking to catch England on the break, whilst the English looked more towards going forward at every opportunity.  In the first few seconds Harry Kane charged down an attempted clearance by Ashley Williams and the ball could have fallen for the Spurs striker, but luckily for Wales they managed to clear.

The first clear chance also fell England's way, and they should have scored.  After seven minutes Kane sent the lively Adam Lallana scampering away down the right and he hit a perfect cross into the path of the sprinting Raheem Sterling.  It seemed certain he would score but instead, he blazed his shot over the crossbar.  It really was a golden chance that should have been taken, and the England fans were left with a feeling of 'here we go again' after remembering the chances missed in the Russian match.

For Wales, Gareth Bale continued to be their main attacker and he did force a corner after one dangerous burst into the box.  But in the main the play saw England probing for a way through and Wales content to soak up the pressure.  Wayne Rooney tried a shot from 25 yards which also flew over the top, and there were plenty of meaty challenges flying in, in what was a typical British game.  There was also a great deal of cat and mouse.

England were gradually getting on top and on 22 minutes a promising free-kick was wasted as Kane fired well over, then Kyle Walker and Lallana combined well, although nothing came of that.  Danny Rose was then felled on the edge of the box and Rooney's free-kick was met with a backward header by Gary Cahill, but Wayne Hennessey got down well to gather.  Walker was having a brilliant game down the right and his energy and control was superb for the whole 90 minutes.  Another fabulous run won another corner for England.  It was Rooney taking all the England corners in this game, so the many cases of 'expert advice' that was given had been heeded by the management as Kane was excused that particular duty.  Having said that, Kane was again in the mix with a header, and there was a definite case of a penalty as the ball clearly struck Ben Davis's hand, unless of course you listened to Robbie Savage's version of the incident.

On 35 minutes another Rooney corner was met by Chris Smalling and his header had Hennessey groping as it flew just the wrong side of the post.  There was no doubt England were having much the better of the game at this stage, but their problem was in the last third of the pitch as Wales were comfortably holding them.  With three minutes to go to the break England were caught by the ultimate sucker punch.  Rooney gave away a free-kick, some 25 yards out, and of course, that man Bale lined up his kick.  The shot was on target but seemed to take an age to get there, so what Joe Hart was thinking about goodness only knows.  By the time he woke up the ball had squirmed away from his dive and grasp.  There was bedlam at the Welsh end as their fans went wild, but Geoff Boycott would have saved that with his Mum's stick of rhubarb!

So, the half-time break came with England so much on top, and yet, they were a goal down!  It was all very frustrating, but credit to Roy Hodgson because after the break he pulled off a very brave piece of management.  On came Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge and off went the ineffective Sterling and Kane.  Immediately England were on the front foot again, and this time there was more speed and purpose about their attacking play.  Walker won another corner and Sturridge shot over, whilst at the other end the hard-working Aaron Ramsey saw his shot safely gathered by Hart.

On 55 minutes Rooney tried a low curler, but Hennessey was down smartly to tip the ball around the post.  From the corner the ball was scrambled away but fell to Sturridge on the left, he quickly chipped it back into the mix and the heads went up.  Somehow the ball dropped at the feet of Vardy and he bundled it over the line from what seemed a certain offside position.  But all credit to the officials because what they had seen and most of the rest of us hadn't seen was that the ball reached Vardy off the head of Ashley Williams!

Walker, playing like a man possessed, then made yet another lung-busting run down the right and sent over a terrific cross, Lallana's shot was blocked as were several others as the Welsh defenders somehow scrambled the ball away. Sturridge had another good run and shot but always that last final pass was breaking down for England, even though it seemed just a matter of time before that next goal would come.  As the game zoomed towards its crescendo, Wales made substitutions and then Hodgson sent on young Marcus Rashford to add to England's firepower.  At the other end though Bale continued to be a danger and one header after he outjumped Rose flew wide.  It was all very, very tense!

Welsh substitute Jonathan Williams was given space for a clear shot but the ball flew over the top of Hart's goal, a rare attack from Wales at this stage.  At the other end England were trying all they knew to try and unlock the tough and determined Welsh defence.  Walker tried his luck with a fierce drive and then Cahill's header was deflected for a corner.  Three minutes were added by the referee and in the second of those England, finally, gained their deserved reward.  Sturridge picked up possession just outside the left-hand side of the box.  A quick flick of his foot passed the ball towards Deli Alli and a dart forward onto Alli's deft return flick and Sturridge somehow squirted a shot under Hennessey and in to the back of the net.  If the agony was Russia's late equaliser in the last game, then the ecstasy was definitely this moment of a pulsating clash.  Wonderful stuff by England and no-one could begrudge them their victory, except perhaps a few crestfallen Welsh fans.  We know how they felt, but this time we were the ones celebrating a last second goal.

Even then the ever-present threat from Bale had English hearts in their mouth as his flying header flew just wide of the goal.  Phew, and phew again.  Don't you just love watching England play football!

I have to end this report with another mention of Kyle Walker as I have never seen a better, more brilliant and clever piece of wing-back play in over 50 odd years of watching football.  I had my doubts about the player before the tournament but he has been an absolute star so far and my hat goes off to him for a breathtaking performance.