England left it very late to beat Wales, with Daniel Sturridge grabbing a stoppage-time winner for Roy Hodgson’s team.
Half-time substitute Jamie Vardy cancelled out Gareth Bale’s opener within 15 minutes of the restart, before Sturridge fired home right-footed at the death.
The game started slowly, as one might have expected given the tensions surrounding the fixture.
This is like football played by a historical reenactment society, untouched by the century's technical and tactical advances
— Tom Fordyce (@tomfordyce) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Glenn_Kitson/status/743431355015401472
England had an penalty shout about half an hour in when the ball struck Ben Davies’ hand in the Welsh area, but people weren’t convinced.
What constitutes a hand? What really is a ball? Can anybody really say that anything is handball? Well, yes. Yes they can.
— Chris (@chrs00) June 16, 2016
But Wales were the first to draw blood, Gareth Bale firing home a long-range free-kick with a bit of a helping hand from Joe Hart.
Hart mistake looks worse every time you watch it. So too, I suspect, will the lapse and foul from Rooney to concede free kick in first place
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Futfanatico/status/743440798574772224
There was no need to panic, though.
Don't worry #ENG fans. Roy Hodgson is building a team for the future. Not for the next tournament. But maybe the one after that. Maybe
— Evan Fanning (@evanfanning) June 16, 2016
Okay, there was some need to panic.
England has never won a major-tournament game when trailing at half time (0-9-2 at EUROs/WC). #ENG
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/elhaydo/status/743445866476896257
England fans began to despair
https://twitter.com/DaveSulley/status/743445282009006080
And get really desperate
FUCKING HELL COME ON SCORE A GOAL
— JOEL GOLBY STAN ACCOUNT (@joelgolby) June 16, 2016
Me: why won't we shoot?? Have a go ffs etc
*Sturridge*
Me: oh.— Out of Context Bandwagons (@bifurcated_MBM) June 16, 2016
But then substitute Jamie Vardy found an equaliser just when things looked their worst
Jamie Vardy's having a EURO party! 🎶🎉 #ENG #EURO2016 #ENGWAL pic.twitter.com/mpER7SjX61
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 16, 2016
The reaction to Vardy's goal from the fanpark, via @SoccerAM pic.twitter.com/O0SWkNKmPP
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/TBNSport/status/743447708590088192
It looked offside at first glance, though it turned out the final touch came from Wales’ Ashley Williams.
https://twitter.com/BeechardRich/status/743447112231305217
Why did you head it that way, Williams you stupid, stupid prick?
— Utah (@JohnnyUtah100) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/NutmegRadio/status/743447661261398016
At 1-1, 18-year-old Marcus Rashford came on for his competitive England debut
https://twitter.com/tomEurosport/status/743451162167377920
https://twitter.com/KevBeirne/status/743451458025160705
Going to be great when we find out he's only brought Marcus Rashford on to take corners.
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) June 16, 2016
England had started to look a little lost, but Wales sat back
https://twitter.com/judeinlondon/status/743453759162945536
And Hodgson’s men took advantage for a victory that not everyone thought they deserved.
Almost nothing good about that goal from an attacking sense. Not that I give the slightest of fucks!
— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) June 16, 2016
Roy's policy of trying every forward possible pays off at last. #engwal #eng
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) June 16, 2016
Sturridge in injury time. Ironic.
— Rich Laverty (@RichJLaverty) June 16, 2016
England are now all but through to the knockout stages. Wales can also secure a place in the last 16 if they beat Russia in their final group game, while a point may be enough.
https://twitter.com/arshifpl11/status/743456768525631489
