Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
No action for Blues duo but England beat Wales

England 2 - 1 Wales

Ross Barkley was reportedly tasked with mimicking Gareth Bale in training this week
England and Wales met in the all-British clash of the group stage in Lens, with Roy Hodgson's team emerging victorious thanks to Daniel Sturridge's injury-time winner that broke Wales's stubborn defensive resistance.
The Welsh led Group B coming into the match on the back of their 2-1 win over Slovakia but the Slovakians' own victory over Russia yesterday had increased the pressure on England to get a result in today's early-afternoon kick-off.
Though there was some back-and-forth banter between the two camps in recent days over which nation has the better team on paper, England were predictably the betting favourites in live betting with LeoVegas for the game.
Everton's two representatives were both onlookers during the Three Lions' first match against Russia on Saturday in which Vasili Berezutski's injury-time header salvaged what had for long periods of the game seemed like an unlikely draw. And they had to be content to watch on from the bench again today.
With that increased need to get all three points, Hodgson didn't deviate from the side he put out against Russia, particularly defensively where England were solid until their very late lapse. MailOnline reported that Ross Barkley was tasked with mimicking Gareth Bale's direct attacking style in training this week as the players prepare to face the Real Madrid star but that was merely for practice purposes to test his defence against that kind of threat.
Barkley would have been hopeful of getting some playing time, particularly given how ordinary England looked at times in the offensive department at the weekend and again in a dull first half.
Hodgson elected to play either or both Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli again from the start and while Rooney was again effective in more of a holding role against Russia, Alli flattered to deceive in the role that Barkley would dearly like to make his own in the national team.
And it was Wales who broke the tedium just before half time when a typical Bale free kick flew over the wall and squirmed in off Joe Hart's gloves.
Hodgson responded at the break by bringing both Jamie Vardy and Sturridge on and the Leicester man repaid his manager's belated faith by poaching the equaliser off Ashley Williams's backwards header.
The match was heading for a draw that would have favoured the Welsh far more but Sturridge collected a give-and-go with Alli and found a gap between Wayne Hennessy and the post to hand England a dramatic late winner.
Reader Comments (79)
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2 Posted 16/06/2016 at 08:47:00
Stones may yet go, of course, though I think he'd be very foolish to leave. As for Ross, I think he'll fly with the new regime.
3 Posted 16/06/2016 at 08:48:05
4 Posted 16/06/2016 at 08:56:04
5 Posted 16/06/2016 at 09:03:03
6 Posted 16/06/2016 at 09:06:33
8 Posted 16/06/2016 at 10:23:49
9 Posted 16/06/2016 at 11:36:00
10 Posted 16/06/2016 at 12:10:38
This will be a fantastic game in my opinion. Wales are a true team led by one hell of a footballer in Bale. England, in my opinion, have more talent at their disposal than any other team in the tournament sans maybe one and simply must shake that 500 pound monkey off their backs and stop choking.
It's gonna be full of passion, robust challenges, drama... it's going to be a great game (hopefully).
11 Posted 16/06/2016 at 12:26:12
Wales will play tough but I still see England shading it but only if Hodgson makes the substitutions correctly depending on the score.
12 Posted 16/06/2016 at 12:35:06
Not having my usual egg today, just in case I get it all over my face!!!!!!!!!!!!
13 Posted 16/06/2016 at 13:18:15
14 Posted 16/06/2016 at 13:31:46
15 Posted 16/06/2016 at 13:39:46
Either way, it's going to be a great afternoon between this and a 6 horse multiple bet at Royal Ascot.
Pre-match meal sorted. Now need to hydrate ......
16 Posted 16/06/2016 at 13:59:51
17 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:04:42
18 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:09:32
19 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:13:02
20 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:24:31
22 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:45:33
23 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:47:30
24 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:49:04
25 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:50:05
27 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:53:30
28 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:54:25
29 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:54:54
Leaving out Vardy or Sturridge in favour of Sterling is stupidity at it's best. It's not even as if Sterling defends well.
I also think Joe Hart is fading fast as the number one goalkeeper.
If he is the best what are the rest like?
Good strike by Bale but Hart should have saved it. He knew it was coming.
Make the changes now Roy or retire.
30 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:56:57
Why does he every game keep kicking the ball out of play? £40 million your having a laugh.
31 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:57:12
32 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:57:29
33 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:58:50
34 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:01:15
35 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:01:54
P.S. We will probably win now and woy will become a national hero.
36 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:02:26
37 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:02:31
I saw Moby Dick three times....
38 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:03:08
39 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:05:59
Obviously the press will lay into the Liverpool and Spurs players. Obviously.
40 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:15:44
But you're left wondering, "Well then why didn't YOU do that?"
Strange guy.
42 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:19:00
43 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:20:07
44 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:22:18
45 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:23:57
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36443970
Not a bad effort there. Will probably still use it when we bow out this year.
Paranoid? Only because they are out to get us.
46 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:40:02
Who's on next? A cannibal advising the Vegetarian Society re. the menu for their annual get-together?
47 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:44:25
Was Vardy onside?
48 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:44:33
50 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:51:14
52 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:55:16
Honestly, there is nothing like a tournament to shatter the hype; seen better football from Austria, Hungary, Romania and Switzerland.
When asked to highlight which Russian players England should be wary of, Jamie Redknapp said; "none of them would get into our side, we have nothing to fear" (a risible comment at the best of times but coming hot on the heels of Leicester's championship win, just really stupid). Sums up the delusion of the average fan and pundit.
David - Alli is the new Barkley for England and he honestly stank the place out today. I don't think either Barkley or he are great talents because I look beyond comparing them to Cleverley and use Goetze instead.
Feel bad for Rashford having games thrown at him. Seems a nice kid, shame for him to be associated with this shite at such a tender age.
53 Posted 16/06/2016 at 15:56:54
Wales unfortunately played for the draw in the end and as has happened in the Euros so far got punished by a late, late goal.
54 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:02:49
55 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:04:17
56 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:05:37
57 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:10:15
58 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:10:20
59 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:15:44
60 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:20:32
I don't see it being a positive in terms of doing the job he's paid to do when he gets another management job. If I was his next employer, I would prevent our OLFM doing these entertainment gigs.
61 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:29:00
Dennis, did you watch the match? 2-1 flattered Wales I'm afraid.
Most disappointing was the amount of diving from the Welsh.
Thought the Beeb's Welsh pundits were good actually, and Sturridge was quite classy in his post-match interview. (Sorry, shouldn't have said that).
62 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:42:36
64 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:49:07
Mike, I thought the goals were lucky. Don't disagree the Welsh was flattered by the score.
65 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:53:10
66 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:53:22
67 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:54:36
Our lads are used to diving over for tries Mike... oh... sorry wrong game!
Dennis Ng 'Flattered"? 'flattered'? you think we were flattered do you?
Don't flatter yourself mate — I think it was you who thought the goal should have been offside? — Well there you go.
68 Posted 16/06/2016 at 16:56:41
69 Posted 16/06/2016 at 17:00:31
Alli will start against Slovakia obvs.
71 Posted 16/06/2016 at 17:13:14
Peter, nice call on that play. I thought I saw someone lost the ball and didn't even think someone will be able to whip it.
72 Posted 16/06/2016 at 17:24:45
Mark Clattenberg. Another two words that might do it for you.
73 Posted 16/06/2016 at 17:38:08
74 Posted 16/06/2016 at 17:38:10
78 Posted 16/06/2016 at 18:20:37
By the way I think Ross would have done a better job in attacking mid that Delli Ali did.
82 Posted 16/06/2016 at 18:42:59
83 Posted 16/06/2016 at 18:43:06
84 Posted 16/06/2016 at 18:45:00
For England, Alli was ineffective and Kane and Sterling were woeful. Kyle Walker was the stand out player for me absolutley roasting the Wales left back time and time again. We nearly signed him on 2009 but him and Naughton chose Spurs over us, although at the time it was Naughton everyone was raving about.
86 Posted 16/06/2016 at 18:48:57
Bloody right Keith, two days in the head lines is bloody marvellous, reminds me of Everton and how the big boys used to bully the media into thinking that Everton did not exist.
Two days in the Limelight and no arrests yet!
88 Posted 16/06/2016 at 19:55:09
Let's hope both teams win on Monday to go through.
And please, leave Sterling off the park. Looked like like a sulky kid out of his depth in a paddling pool. Rooney was superb for the second game running.
90 Posted 16/06/2016 at 22:43:31
Going forward, they offered absolutely zilch and just got men behind the ball thinking England didn't have the guile to break them down. Well, sorry but that's a dangerous game to play and it proved it today.
The only downside for me was that cretin Sturridge scoring and that idiotic celebration. I swear if I have to see that again, I'll kick the tele in. Goodnight.
91 Posted 16/06/2016 at 23:27:08
No arrests could be because the Russian and French thugs that are causing most of the mayhem initially don't rate the Welsh.
Not even arsed about our National footy team mate. Love Rugby - and Everton. I hope both go through, but the crowing by Bale, Ramsey, Coleman, and even to a small extent by yourself has bitten you in the arse.
Isn't it!
92 Posted 17/06/2016 at 07:27:12
93 Posted 17/06/2016 at 08:00:03
94 Posted 17/06/2016 at 16:35:50
This tournament so far has yielded many late goals and the fresh legs of Sturridge proved the undoing of Wales who despite Bale and winning their first game are not good enough to advance.
I am actually not too displeased to see Stones and Barkley omitted so far. Hodgson has his faves and his starting fave eleven proves he is a poor judge as once again Sterling was awful.
The game against Slovakia is still crucial and some extra creativity in midfield is warranted so I would like to see Wilshere come in and Rashford to start up front with either Sturridge or Vardy.
These need more playing time if they are to get past the round of sixteen and the going gets tougher.
95 Posted 17/06/2016 at 17:31:21
96 Posted 18/06/2016 at 15:51:51
With their daft haircuts and wanky goal celebrations and their delusions that they are technically good enough to compete at the top level I'm not really bothered if they win or lose.
How many English players would get in a world or European eleven? None, although Rooney may get in the squad. And yet every tournament people who should know better think they may be in with a chance.
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1 Posted 16/06/2016 at 06:29:17