Euro 2016: England v/s Russia - heartbreak for Three Lions as Glushakov's late winner denies win

Goal 

And that's all it takes in football. Russia just stole a point! 

And there's two minutes to go. 

It looks like James Milner is coming on for Raheem Sterling. Looks like Roy wants to tigthen things up now. 

Wayne Rooney and Roy Hodgson had urged the team to play without fear and they have played without fear. This team hasn't played with any burden at all. 

Wayne Rooney makes way for Jack Wilshere

Tottenham 1 Russia 0

— Saif Rubie (@saifpr) June 11, 2016

In case you missed it. That was one peach of a delivery.

Eric Dier GOAL!! #ENG #ENGRUS pic.twitter.com/hHprJu1uZ7

— Euros 2016 France (@EurosRelated) June 11, 2016

Goal 

Eric Dier scores with a thunderous free kick! 

The Three Lions look like they want to tear their hair out. A delicious ball from Rose found Rooney whose shot was again saved by Akinfeev. I remember signing up Akinfeev on Football Manager 2012 and he never disappointed. Looks like for once the algorithm was right about this former wunderkind. 

Jamie Vardy can be seen warming up. Is it time for him to come on? 

Joe Hart isn't happy. The Russians are attacking properly now. That was England's biggest scare and Russia are starting to find their feet. 

Eric Dier just forced an uncomfortable save out of his own keeper. 

54 Wayne Rooney aimed for the top corner from that free kick but that was just a yard off. 

How Jose probably will react to his new captain's free kick. 

Harry Kane puts the ball in from a set-piece but somehow the ball hasn't found its way into the net yet. 

51 

Someone remind the English team that they need to put the ball in the net for full points. 

A likely explanation?

suspect Putin rang the #rus team at half time and promised a gulag they are trying harder unfortunately #Euros2016 #ENGRUS

— Nick Churchill (@nickchurchill1) June 11, 2016

Gary Cahill keeps it out. A defender, the commentator points out, who likes to defend! 

It indeed is.

"Quiet desperation is the English way" Pink Floyd #ENGRUS #ENG

— Simon Gleave (@SimonGleave) June 11, 2016

When you're watching the football like... #ENGRUS pic.twitter.com/DJIbh4jaJq

— Katy (@KatyWoo) June 11, 2016

That's half-time. At half-time it's 0-0. England should really have scored in the first half. 

Who is that guy?

"Remember lads, this is our chance to show the world we're not really a bunch of cavemen - oh FFS, Dave..." #ENGRUS pic.twitter.com/YE9TPvSGXS

— Scottish Comedy FC (@ScotComFC) June 11, 2016

Akinfeev keeps it out again. Things could've been far worse for Russia without him. 

Danny Rose tried to shoot from long. That was reminiscent of his debut goal against Arsenal but those kind of strikes only come around once a lifetime. 

And you really can't expect England to keep this pace up. They'd be very disappointed if they don't capitalise. Russia are just trying to hold the ball for three seconds. 

And now Rooney has a brilliant shot but it's too close to the keeper. 

That was a brilliant ball for Delle Alli. Russia need to tighten up at the back. 

This is end to end stuff. 

Harry Kane puts it in but he is definitely OFFSIDE. 

Why indeed?

Why isn't Kane on goal kicks?

— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) June 11, 2016

England has 68% possession till now. 

Raheem Sterling was clear on through but a brilliant tackle prevents him from scoring. 

21

Kyle Walker's pass was brilliant but Lallana just failed to connect properly. They are changing the positions brilliantly. 

That pass from Sterling was a tad too weighted. A tad lighter and Rose could've crossed it in better. 

 

16

Russia had a chance with that set piece but the header was too close to Hart. And that pass was just outside. Sterling has been really lively. And why was no one at the end of that cross? 

13

Harry Kane just tried to shoot from way outside and that was miles away from the target. . But you don't expect Kane to stop shooting. 

11

Raheem Sterling is like greased lightning on the left-flank and is giving England a lot of width. Oh and why is Harry Kane taking corners? 

Another beautiful Raheem Sterling move which sees Delle Ali cushion a pass for Harry Kane who fails to connect. This is a new England. Or as Aldous Huxley said: "Brave New World" 

Lallana has an good shot but Akinfeev blocks it. 

We've never seen England play like this at a major tournament in recent memory. They are fast, they are aggressive and they are actually passing the ball well. This is what Jurgen Klopp calls 'English football' 

Sterling looks lively on the left.He crosses the ball to Kane who lays it down for Delli Alli but his volley is way off target. 

Come On England!

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 11, 2016

That was a great run from Sterling but his pass was really off. Needs to perform better. 

Here's how @TeamRussia will be set up tonight...
Where to watch #EURO2016: https://t.co/50caJuJz6p#ENGRUS pic.twitter.com/yrjuc3UUOB

— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 11, 2016

Ok the teams are walking out of the tunnel now. 

Shocking scenes of violence 

English and Russian soccer fans hurling bottles and chairs clashed with each other and with French riot police in Marseille on Saturday ahead of their teams' opening Euro 2016 match. There were also scuffles between visiting fans and locals, with some wielding cafe tables as weapons, in a third day of violence in the narrow streets leading off Marseille's Vieux Port (Old Port). Marseille's emergency services said about 10 people were injured during the fracas, including one middle-aged man who was knocked unconscious, and one England supporter had suffered a heart attack. (Read more...)

 

Reuters' Francesco Guarascio write: 

Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane got the nod up front for England's opening Euro 2016 Group B game against Russia on Saturday as coach Roy Hodgson picked a team full of attacking talent. Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Adam Lallana were also included, heaping a huge defensive responsibility on Eric Dier, although whether Rooney acts as a second forward or takes more of a midfield role remains to be seen. Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill fill the centre back roles with Danny Rose and Kyle Walker outside them. Striker Jamie Vardy is among the substitutes. Russia coach Leonid Slutsky has also been bold in his bid to overcome the absence of injured midfielders Alan Dzagoev and Igor Denisov, with Roman Neustadter and Alexander Golovin handed their first competitive starts. Fedor Smolov, Artem Dzyuba and Alexander Kokorin will form a three-pronged front line.

Do you think England made a mistake by leaving Vardy on the bench? Is it because he's from Leicester City and not Manchester United or Chelsea or Tottenham? Or is it a good choice given Russia will give very little space to the English forwards? 

Things haven’t got off to a good start in Marseilles. According to Reuters,

 

English and Russian soccer fans hurling bottles and chairs clashed with each other and with French riot police in Marseille on Saturday ahead of their teams' opening Euro 2016 match. There were also scuffles between visiting fans and locals, with some wielding cafe tables as weapons, in a third day of violence in the narrow streets leading off Marseille's Vieux Port (Old Port). Marseille's emergency services said about 10 people were injured during the fracas, including one middle-aged man who was knocked unconscious, and one England supporter had suffered a heart attack. 

Water cannon trucks moved in and dozens of police armed with batons cordoned off streets, firing tear gas to break up the skirmishes. "I hope they never reach the stadium," said Sabine Bernasconi, the mayor of one of Marseille districts.