Sports
It's time for the final group games in Group B with England playing Slovakia and Wales taking on Russia.
Updated : Sep 30, 2017, 06:39 AM IST
Wales outplayed Russia 3-0, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes, as they moved into the round of 16 at Euro 2016 by winning Group B on Monday. Aaron Ramsey dinked the ball over Igor Akinfeev to finish off a counter-attack in the 11th minute and Neil Taylor added a second, also from a counter-attack nine minutes later as Wales took early control.
Russia had no answer to the fast, incisive Welsh breaks and survived several more chances before Gareth Bale scored his third goal of the tournament to become Euro 2016's top marksman, flicking the third past Akinfeev in the 67th minute. Wales topped the group with six points, one ahead of England, who finished second after a 0-0 draw with Slovakia.
England drew 0-0 with Slovakia on Monday to finish second in Euro 2016 Group B and qualify for the knockout phase behind Wales who beat Russia 3-0 in their final match. Wales top the group with six points ahead of England on five, one ahead of Slovakia who should also reach the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. England, who made six changes from the side that started their 2-1 win over Wales, dominated the first half and Jamie Vardy missed a good chance to put them ahead. England continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession after halftime but there were few clear opportunities.
That's all folks for today. Good night ladies and gents.
Match Timing: 12:30 AM June 21
Starting XI
Slovakia: Kozacik, Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan, Kucka, Pecovsky, Hamsik, Mak, Duda, Weiss.
England: Hart, Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand, Henderson,
Dier, Wilshere, Lallana, Vardy, Sturridge.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)
What a start for Wales, they are a goal up. Joe ‘Pirlo’ Allen played a beautiful ball for Ramsey who took a touch before beautifully dinking it over the incoming Igor Akinfeev.
And then Neil Taylor, who has never scored a goal for his club team Swansea scored. Bale ran forward and passed a ball behind the right-back Smolkinov to put Taylor through who thinks about it and hits the keeper and luckily the ball comes back to him and he manages to put it past the keeper.
In case you are confused here's how it will work.
If England win, they finish first and top the group.
If England draw, and Wales beat Russia, then Wales will top the group.
If England lose, then Slovakia will top the group unless Wales also win and have a better goal difference.
If Wales win and England win, Wales will be second and England will top the group.
If Wales draw and Slovakia win and have a better goal difference, England can come third.
England manager Roy Hodgson has changed more than half of his team for Monday's Euro 2016 match with Slovakia, including leaving out captain Wayne Rooney. Jordan Henderson replaces Rooney in midfield, while strikers Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy start in place of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, having come on for them at halftime and scored a goal apiece in the 2-1 win over Wales last Thursday. Hodgson also replaced both full backs, bringing in Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand, and gave Jack Wilshere his first start of the tournament in midfield for a Group B match in which a win would guarantee England top spot and a favourable last 16 draw. Slovakia, third in the standings, are unchanged from the side that beat Russia 2-1 in their last game.
Slovakia: Kozacik, Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan, Kucka, Pecovsky, Hamsik, Mak, Duda, Weiss.
England: Hart, Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand, Henderson, Dier, Wilshere, Lallana, Vardy, Sturridge.
The starting XI shows that Roy has gone for wholesale changes resting a host of players. While Vardy and Sturridge are in, so are Wilshere and Henderson. Some will wonder if it was a good idea to drop Rooney who is getting accustomed to his midfield role and would want more minutes on the pitch.