Euro 2016: Liverpool legend calls for England heroes to start against Slovakia

Second half substitute Daniel Sturridge scored a last-gasp victor to give England a 2-1 win over Wales in their Group B match of Euro 2016 on Thursday.

England boss Roy Hodgson’s substitutions at the break paid dividends, with Jamie Vardy, who came on for Harry Kane, equalising in the 56th minute before Daniel Sturridge, who replaced Raheem Sterling, scored the victor in stoppage time.

In fact, late drama has been a feature of not just England matches at Euro 2016, with Dimitri Payet’s last-minute victor against Romania in the curtain raiser having set the tone for a tournament where fans don’t want to leave the stadium early.

On his chances of starting against Slovakia, Vardy said: ‘I will be trying my hardest in training and we will see in the next game. But you can’t tell me my players deserved to lose that way.

Kane’s lack of form in France has been attributed to his efforts for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League title race.

Sturridge and Vardy are part of a bold, attack-minded squad, giving Hodgson a variety of options in France.

In spite of that loss, Wales is in a strong position to make it out of the group and into the knockout stages at Euro 2016.

“I said before the game we respect Wales as a nation and as a football team”.

The West Brom defender did more than most to deny England the lead until the 92nd minute and he be lieves Russian Federation – who have one point from two games – should hold no fears for Wales.

Slovakia vs England, June 20, 20:00 BST, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne. “He had the one thing Chris Coleman, the Welsh manager lacked – the luxury attacking players to call on”.

There is so much hype around Hamsik back home that Slovakian newspaper Novy Cas insists he is better than Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

England’s 2-1 win over Wales has all but clinched qualification for Roy Hodgson’s men but Slovakia could be a different proposition in the group decider.

Kyle Walker and Adam Lallana’s performances were rated as seven out of 10, while every other Three Lions player was given a six. I watched it about twenty times later.

He said: “I pulled a hamstring in that match and spent most of the match limping”.

If England won but Wales drew then the Welsh would still finish in second place with four points to Slovakia’s three.

“But I’m pleased for him because [when] he had that injury, there was speculation, and questions if he was the right player to be in the 23 – should he go? – and I’m delighted that I showed confidence in him because he has not let me down very often”.