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Euro 2016: England stall while Wales hit top gear

Wayne Rooney for England. (AFP)
Roar Pro
22nd June, 2016
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England’s torrid affair with major tournaments has continued after their promising but ultimately disappointing performance against Slovakia.

Having not guaranteed top position in Group C, Roy Hodgson’s decision to make six changes to the side that come from behind to defeat Wales was seen as risky and out of character from the normally tame 68-year-old.

Bringing Jamie Vardy and Dan Sturridge on against Wales proved a master stroke with the two combing for the equaliser and Sturridge poking home the winning late in the match. However, the new-look England team didn’t experience the same success against Slovakia.

A win was the only way they could ensure top spot without relying on the outcome of Wales’ game, and England would’ve felt confident of still getting the required result, despite all six changes making their first starts of the tournament.

Overnight at the Euros:
» Ireland stun Italy
» Sweden heading home after loss to Belgium
» Hungary and Portugal even in six-goal thriller
» Iceland’s historic victory over Austria

Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson had disrupted seasons for their respective clubs and showed their lack of match fitness in this performance.

Contrastingly Slovakia, having already beaten Russia, knew that a draw and one point was all they potentially needed to qualify in third and they approached the match with that mentality.

Setting up with a defensive 4-4-1-1 formation, their lone striker received little service as England dominated the game with 61 per cent possession and 29 shots to Slovakia’s four.

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If one stat was to sum up the how the match panned out, it was that of England’s 29 shots, only five managed to hit the target.

For all their domination neither side could find the back of the net, leaving England disappointed and Slovakia pleased with the result.

With England the presumptive top placed finishers and Wales only needing a point to be guaranteed likely qualification, Chris Coleman’s men went out with little pressure on their shoulders against a disappointing Russian outfit.

Russia, needing a win to give themselves any chance of progression, opened with an attacking 4-3-2-1 line up.

They fell behind early after a probing ball from Joe Allen to Aaron Ramsey gave Wales the lead and there was no coming back from there, doubling the advantage ten minutes later.

To their credit, Russia didn’t roll over, holding their own possession wise, retaining 49 per cent with 12 shots.

The final nail in the coffin came in the form of Gareth Bale’s 67 minute goal, his third in as many games this tournament with Joe Allen starring in midfield, sealing the win. A generous 3-0 score line highlighted the difference quality between the two squads.

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England’s final day failure left the door open for Wales to snatch first place, leaving England facing the prospect of a difficult knockout meeting with one of Europe’s powerhouse nations.

England’s all-time leading goal scorer, Wayne Rooney, has shone in his new deeper lying midfield role and his absence in their draw with Slovakia was noted.

His presence and experience, gives the side level of confidence and composure they’ll need when facing the top nations.

In their debut tournament, Wales has impressed, topping a difficult group and giving themselves a good chance of progressing deep into the tournament with Bale’s form key to their success.

Slovakia’s defensive resolve shown against Russia and especially England, combined with the brilliance that is Marek Hamšík show if they are to qualify for the knockouts, they will be danger side that nobody will be keen to draw.

Russia came into a difficult group with the very real prospect of qualifying but off field incidents have effected their performances, resulting in an overall disappointing campaign.

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