Bale’s free kick prowess demonstrated again against England

The pressure eventually saw Wales crack.

“They say things even themselves out, but rarely in the space of two games”.

He added: “I have great empathy with Chris and the Welsh team because he must have been looking at a good draw. There is no better way to win a game than scoring in the last minute”.

He said: “I’m not sure if England can win if I’m honest!”

Referees, however, awarded three minutes of additional game time and England’s second half late replacement Daniel Sturridge netted another ball for his team to seal the final score at 2-1. That disappointment is there, but we can’t take it into the next game.

“We still have one more game to go and the tournament’s not over yet”. “We played so well against Russian Federation and conceded in the 93rd minute”. Raheem Sterling only came off at the end despite a awful showing, whilst Adam Lallana got a full game.

“I think that’s a question that many a journalist in the mass media and maybe many a fan would be asking”, he told reporters.

Carragher also said manager Roy Hodgson deserved credit for introducing both Vardy and Sturridge at half-time.

England now top the group on four points with a game to go against Slovakia – who defeated Russian Federation 2-1 on Wednesday – in Saint-Etienne.

If England draw the lowest they can finish is second place and could still claim top spot if Wales draw with Russian Federation.

Coleman might reflect that his team defended too deeply from that point onwards.

Vardy played a key role in the Three Lions coming from behind to beat Wales 2-1 at the European Championships. Their attitude could be summed up by Joe Ledley’s indefatigable performance in midfield, back in the starting line-up only 40 days after breaking his leg. Aaron Ramsey led by example and Wales came agonisingly close to emerging with a draw they would have regarded with considerable satisfaction.

From looking in a weak position in the group, the English now find themselves in first place and can not finish lower than third, likely earning a spot in the last 16 in this enlarged tournament.

Can England improve? The manager’s tactical decisions and substitutions suggest not but he has some good players to help him out. It is followed by Wales and Slovakia with three points each, while Russian Federation trails behind the rest with one point. It’s a shame that we all sigh a huge amount of relief for different reasons when we win, because losing usually means that a few hundred England fans kick off, get carried away, confuse patriotism with madness, and ruin it for the rest of the supporters by wrecking a couple of bars.