The big match of the tournament, well, it was for the Wales team, and they needed to win to have any chance of going through to the knockout stage of the competition. As it turned out, that was never an option as, eventually, England totally dominated proceedings, although not without a turgid opening half. It certainly turned into a game of two distinct halves.

The first ten minutes were devoid of meaningful football, but then, suddenly Harry Kane gained possession and fed a delightful through ball into the path of Marcus Rashford. Goalkeeper Daniel Ward was quickly off his line though and did well to make a save. Four minutes later a free-kick to England was cleared to Phil Foden but his shot flew over the crossbar. After 20 minutes the game settled into that usual monotonous pattern of both sides passing square and back on too many occasions. Is it me, or does anyone else get so frustrated by that brand of football? There was also an increasing number of times when as soon as and England player touched a Welsh jersey, the player went down like a sack of coal.

Dan James was booked for a foul on John Stones, and then a long run by Harry Maguire was ended by a shot that went out for a throw-in on the far side! Says it all. And why do the BBC want to keep showing a caption of 'total receptions?' I think they must be confusing the football with Escape to the Country! Neco Williams, who had been injured when Rashford's powerful shot hit him on the head, then had to go off after a long break. 30 minutes of added time promised (only joking), but I had to find something to write about.

On 38 minutes a proper chance was created by England with some fine play. Kane, Jude Bellingham and Foden combined with some great one touch play, but Foden's final shot flew just over the bar. That would have been a terrific goal. And that was quickly followed by an overhead kick from the lively Rashford, again just wide. There still seemed to be a lack of rhythm in England's play, despite their dominance. As for Wales, only a late shot from Joe Allen threaten the England goal, although in the end his shot was well wide. Only 5 minutes were added, sorry about that, and the half ended goalless.

There was a surprise straight after the interval as Gareth Bale, who had been anonymous did not come out for the second half, with Brennan Johnson replacing him. When England were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box on 50 minutes, it was worrying to see six England players around the ball, seemingly perplexed as to what to do and who should take the kick. As it turned out the mood of depression suddenly lifted as Rashford fired in a brilliant shot into the far top corner giving Ward no chance. That was the first goal in this tournament direct from a free-kick.

The England fans uncontrolled joy was then given yet another boost, just a minute later. Kane gained possession down the right and wasted no time to put in a cross that he himself would love to receive. Running in on the end of it was Foden, who tucked the ball away with the minimum of fuss. What a pass from Kane, and people do tend to forget the other parts of his game. Wales tried to hit back quickly as first James curled a shot wide and then Jordan Pickford made his only save of the night, and it was a good one too. In the 56th minute Keiffer Moore fired in a shot at goal, which​ took a wicked deflection off the head of Maguire. Pickford had to change direction in mid-air to push the ball away to safety.

Gareth Southgate then decided to give some of his subs a game with Trent Alexander Arnold replacing Kyle Walker, Callum Wilson on for Kane and Kalvin Phillips replacing the battling Declan Rice. The Welsh fans watching must have been envious of England's embarrassment of riches on their bench. It all culminated in a third goal for England on 68 minutes. A long ball forward found Rashford clear on the right, he cut inside, side-stepped a couple of defenders and drilled a shot goalwards. Perhaps Ward should have done better but the ball squirmed under his body for 3-0. 14 minutes later Rashford was close to a hat-trick as he and Wilson combined, but this time Ward blocked Rashford's shot with his foot.

Wales were a spent force by now and on 77 minutes Bellingham saw his shot blocked with Foden deflecting the follow-up wide. As the game drew to a close the Welsh, who never gave up, had a few half chances but it was England who came closest to adding to their total with Stones missing a sitter from close range after Maguire's header back across goal found him unmarked. It seemed easier for Stones to score than put the ball over the crossbar. Even then, there was still time for another scramble in the Welsh goalmouth, and how the ball stayed out one is not entirely sure.

So, in the end a comfortable win for England and they topped their group by a clear margin. Now we move on to a tricky match against Senegal in the first knockout game.
  

Source Notes