Super-subs spare England blushes

Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge rose from the bench to score as England came from behind to defeat neighbours Wales 2-1 in Thursday's all-British Euro 2016 clash in Lens.

Just as he had in Wales's opening 2-1 win over Slovakia, Gareth Bale put Chris Coleman's side ahead with a long-range free-kick that England goalkeeper Joe Hart could only fumble into the net.

But Vardy and Sturridge came on at half-time and after the former had equalised in the 56th minute, the latter smuggled in a stoppage-time winner that fired Roy Hodgson's men to the top of the group.

When the final, decisive blow came, Hodgson could be seen leaping out of his dugout and embarking on the kind of victory run that has not been seen before during his four years as England manager.

England had given everything to pull off this feat of escapology and in the process, Hodgson can take a fair amount of the glory given the way the game changed once he brought on Vardy and Sturridge at half-time.

Hodgson also brought on Marcus Rashford during the second half, such was the manager's determination to find a winner and make sure the occasion would not be remembered solely as a personal ordeal for Hart given the nature of the Bale's free-kick that opened the scoring.

Bale, Welsh antagoniser-in-chief in the build-up to the game, had been a peripheral figure, save for a shot that was blocked by Cahill, but three minutes before half-time he strode onto centre-stage. He fired a 35-yard free-kick that had vicious pace and dip, but Hart should have done better than palm it inside his left-hand post.

Hodgson was quick to react, sending on Vardy and Sturridge for Kane and Sterling at the break and it worked perfectly for his side against a stubborn Wales. The victory also released the pressure from England.

"It's certainly two different ends to the spectrum," Hodgson said after seeing his side topple Wales from the Group B summit following that heart-stopping 1-1 draw against Russia.

"It's a long time since myself and the coaching staff have showed such joy at a goal. That's because that goal the other night put us under a bit of pressure,” he added.

Wales manager Chris Coleman said: "We are gutted, but we have to move on.  We are here to get through to the last 16.”