It was always going to be Gareth Bale, wasn’t it?
As much as everyone knows he likes a free-kick, very few people would have fancied the Real Madrid man to find the back of the net when Wales were awarded a foul thrity yards from goal.
Still, up he stepped, and in it went. Wales went into half-time in Lens with a one goals lead and fingers were quickly pointed at England keeper Joe Hart.
Predictably, a Joe Hart error was an excuse for some people to make jokes about his commercial deal with a famous anti-dandruff shampoo….
https://twitter.com/Alex_Moores/status/743440688747061248
Joe Hart must feel that ad deal with head & shoulders passing him by…just like Bale's free kick 😂😂
— Elle (@ElleW00) June 16, 2016
Other predicted that his time as England number one could be about to come to an end.
At this rate Joe Hart's gunna be Fraser Forster's water boy
— Andy (@andyhughes__) June 16, 2016
Some suggested that he simply didn’t have the competition.
Joe Hart is England's and Man City's number 1 because he has no competition.
Average goalkeeper.
— IASoccer (@_imran_mufc_) June 16, 2016
All in all, not his finest moment, leaving his teammates with an uphill battle in the second 45.
Wonder what topping #JoeHart will have ?#ENG pic.twitter.com/NOP0T2piI7
— Richard Cracknell (@MrCracknell) June 16, 2016
Look up 'wanker' in the dictionary… You'll see joe hart
— Daniel Dinic (@DanielDinic) June 16, 2016
Harsh.
England had dominated most of the first half and should have taken the lead when Raheem Sterling put an Adam Lallana cross wide of the post. They also had a strong penalty claim waves away when the ball clearly struck Ben Davies’ arm.
But as England found against Russia, you’ve got to make the most of your chances.
