England vs. Wales (Tactical report)

Roy Hodgson got his substitutions spot on but he must now make decide which of his strikers will start in the crucial game against Slovakia.

Roy Hodgson kept faith with the same players that started the game against Russia with Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling flanking Harry Kane. Lallana played on the right of a 4-3-3 with Rooney dropping in between Dele Alli and Eric Dier in midfield.

Wales kept the same shape as was in its win over Slovakia with Joe Ledley, Hal Robson-Kanu and Wayne Hennessey in the starting XI. Aaron Ramsey played just behind Gareth Bale who had a strike partner in Robson-Kanu this time with Jonny Williams dropping to the bench.

Both teams looked to attack in what was a fairly open game with Lallana looking especially lively for England. He set up Sterling for the first genuine chance of the match but the Manchester City man skied his effort from eight yards out. Gareth Bale hardly had a sniff in the opening half an hour with the England backline, aided by Eric Dier, cutting out the supply line to the Welshman.

It was deja vú for Wales as it got its opener just before half-time from a direct free-kick again with Gareth Bale's strike going over the wall and beating Joe Hart (see picture) . The England goalkeeper got a huge hand to it but should have done much better.

Hodgson sent on Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge in place of Sterling and Kane, and Wales struggled to cope with this extra injection of movement and pace. Switching to a diamond in midfield with Alli and Rooney taking turns to be at the tip, England dominated with almost two-thirds of ball possession pushed Wales back.

Vardy's equalising goal was a scrappy one when Sturridge's cross came off Ashley Williams's head to play the Leicester man onside and he made no mistake from inside the six-yard box.

England pushed for the winner and Hodgson introduced teenage striker Marcus Rashford who took up a position on the left side of attack after replacing Adam Lallana. He attacked the space between right-sided centre back James Chester and full-back Chris Gunter which allowed Danny Rose to bombard forward.

Sturridge received the ball from Rose and after linking up with Vardy and Alli, he toe-poked the ball past Wayne Hennessey in the Welsh goal to win it for England in injury time.

Hodgson got his substitutions spot on but he must now make decide which of his strikers will start in the crucial game against Slovakia.