Wales’ Gareth Bale expects ‘feisty’ derby against England at Euro 2016

Gareth Bale, who scored 11 goals in the qualifying round, was predicted to power Wales’ with goals in the tournament, and the Real Madrid man rose to the occasion by putting the team in the lead in the tenth minute through a free-kick.

Chris Coleman’s side overcame Slovakia 2-1 in their first group B game which was Wales’ first game in a major tournament for 58 years.

Reading forward Hal Robson-Kanu scuffed effort in the 81 minute was enough to give Wales a historic first European Championship victory.

Robson-Kanu will be hoping to build on Saturday’s personal success with group leaders Wales when they face England at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens on Thursday afternoon.

Wales, playing in their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup, played a great game against Slovakia.

Schaer headed home a Xherdan Shaqiri corner kick for the game’s only goal in the fifth minute – punishing a mistake by Albania goalkeeper Etrit Berisha, who was too late in his decision to leave his line to intercept the ball.

“I said before the game, whatever happens today if we got three points, one point or no points, it didn’t matter about the result because you’re not guaranteed anything”, he added.

But another substitute had the decisive impact as Robson-Kanu struck an untidy finish from close range to get his side off to a winning start at EURO 2016.

Martin Skrtel’s uncompromising challenge on Williams left Wales claiming a penalty, but Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen was not interested in the appeals and waved play on.

All we know is we’re planning our excuses at work for Thursday afternoon, because England vs. Wales got a lot more important. But he went for mobility in attack with Jonathan Williams partnering Bale and Wales were able to counter effectively in transition.

Bale and Robson-Kanu were the goal-scoring heroes for Wales, but to a man they delivered on what was the biggest day of many of their careers.

The Arsenal midfielder looked like he might trip over his own feet but managed to flick the ball to another substitute, Hal Robson-Kanu.

The reds have 12 players represented in the competition and day 2 saw the opportunity for 8 of them to make the mark. The only goal of the game came after just five minutes through a header from centre-back Fabian Schar, after a mistake by Albanian ‘keeper Etrit Berisha.

Hamsik robbed Bale and drove away from three Wales defenders before beating Ward with a low shot, but Davies got back superbly to clear. It had goals, it was quite physical, some good football, and the atmosphere was electric, so it was an incredible afternoon.

Those decades of disappointment were purged in a spine-tingling rendition of the national anthem, which seemed to have a profound effect on the Welsh players, with Gareth Bale visibly moved.