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Wednesday, 22 June 2016 02:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Wales enjoyed their greatest day in football for more than half a century by overwhelming Russia 3-0 on Monday to win Group B at Euro 2016 ahead of their oldest rivals England.
It was an outcome that had seemed unlikely when England beat them 2-1 last Thursday, and the thousands of Welsh supporters could have been forgiven for a feeling of disbelief as they celebrated every touch of the ball with “oles” before finally feeling free to chant “we are top of the league”.
They will play a third-placed team in Paris on Saturday while England face the Group F runners-up and Wales will go into the knockout stage with realistic hopes of reaching the last eight.
“It was never about beating England, it was about qualifying,” Wales manager Chris Coleman told reporters, adding that he had never seen a better performance from a Welsh team. Russia, bottom of the standings with one point, obtained with an undeserved last-minute equaliser against England, go home with much to think about before they host the World Cup in two years time under a new coach. The story of the night, however, was a Welsh one. In what had been described as the country’s biggest game since the 1958 World Cup quarter-final, they rediscovered the attacking brio that enabled them to beat Slovakia in the opening game.
Gareth Bale, the scorer of a direct free kick in each of the two previous games to equal a European Championship record, was close with several fine efforts before becoming the first player since Milan Baros in 2004 to score in three successive games at the European finals.
He was outstanding in running at a Russian defence that allowed far too much space to him and Aaron Ramsey, breaking in support of Sam Vokes, the surprise selection in attack in place of Hal Robson-Kanu.
That defence was not helped by a revamped midfield being outplayed by Joe Ledley and the tigerish Joe Allen.
St Etienne, France (Reuters): England had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Slovakia on Monday although that was enough for Roy Hodgson’s team to reach the knockout phase by finishing second in Group B behind Wales.
England dominated the match but their failure to beat Slovakia, who came third and should also go through to the last 16, means they will face the runners-up in Group F.
England made six changes and their new-look lineup created several chances, with Jamie Vardy, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and substitute Deli Alli having efforts to break the deadlock. But despite the roar of their fans, who vastly outnumbered Slovakia’s in the St Etienne stadium known locally as the cauldron, they could not find a way through the Slovak defence.
England have five points, behind Wales, who beat Russia 3-0, on six, and will play their last 16 tie in Nice on June 27.
If England had finished top, they would have played a third-placed team in Paris two days earlier in a location much closer to their training base which would have suited Hodgson.
Slovakia, on four points, must wait to see if they go through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
