England 1-1 Russia: EURO 2016 Group B Report

England suffered a late, late setback to the start of their EURO 2016 campaign as Russia snatched a share of the spoils in Marseille after pegging back the Three Lions to a 1-1 stalemate.

Vasili Berezutski was the opponent’s saviour; but the Three Lions’ worst enemy, as the centre-half emphatically headed home a stoppage-time cross inside the Stade Velodrome, after Eric Dier had blasted England in front just 16 minutes beforehand through a ferocious free-kick.

National team coach Roy Hodgson opted to revert back to a 4-3-3 formation; with Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling chosen as the centre-half pairing, with Tottenham full-backs Kyle Walker (Right) and Danny Rose (Left) on either flank.

Tottenham midfielder Dier fired England in front – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

In midfield; Spurs duo Dele Alli and Dier were joined by captain Wayne Rooney, leaving Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Adam Lallana to shape the front three.

Leicester City striker and Premier League title winner Jamie Vardy was left on the bench.

The entire first-half was a case of England constantly knocking on the door of Igor Akinfeev’s goal frame, but without any reply.

Midfielder Alli flashed the first real opportunity of the match high and wide of the net from a speculative half volley inside the opening three minutes, before skipper Rooney teed up Lallana, who could only send his stinging effort straight at the Russian shot stopper.

Alli was on the front foot once more after 10 minutes played inside the Stade Velodrome, but Tottenham teammate Kane couldn’t quite get his toe on the end of the PFA Young Player of the Year’s dangerous headed ball across the face of goal.

After Smalling had tested Akinfeev with a simple header from a resulting corner, the opposition finally posed their first attacking threat at Joe Hart’s goal, but Sergei Ignashevich’s own header was far too tame to beat the Manchester City ace.

Walker, who was operating more like a winger rather than a right full-back in Marseille, did brilliantly well down the right flank to open up space for Lallana, but the Liverpool man scuffed his shot wide of the mark from 18 yards out.

The Three Lions did in fact manage to have the ball in the back of the net on 28 minutes, but striker Kane was clearly offside following Lallana’s through ball.

Rooney spurned the last goalscoring opportunity of the first-half, volleying a wicked effort straight at Akinfeev in the bombarded Russian net.

After neither side decided to introduce new personnel at the interval, the second-half started much like the first, with Hodgon’s men firmly in the driving seat.

England players watch as the ball agonisingly loops over goalkeeper Hart in the dying embers of the match – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Manchester United star Rooney, who was starting in midfield for the first time for his country, flashed a 25-yard free-kick narrowly high and wide of the top right-hand corner.

However; after failing to capitalise in the opening half, the Three Lions were made to sweat over the goalless scoreline, as Russia started to find their feet and threaten Hart’s goal.

Fyodor Smolov tried to catch the England shot stopper out at his far post, but the forward’s curling effort fizzed just wide of the mark.

Moments later, England then went up the opposite end to draw even closer to finding the breakthrough. After the ball broke kindly for Rooney on the edge of the area, the forward’s stinging effort was expertly tipped onto the woodwork by Akinfeev – who was having a night to remember between the Russian sticks.

But before the shot stopper could award himself the man of the match award, defensive midfielder Dier stepped up to the plate when England were next awarded a free-kick after 74 minutes following a clumsy challenge on Alli.

Spurs teammate Kane dummied the free-kick to the 22-year-old, who rifled the strike into the back of the net to leave Akinfeev completely helpless, and rather speechless.

Having established an advantage, England calmly saw out the remaining 16 minutes of normal time inside the Stade Velodrome to all but cling onto all three points in Group B – but Berezutski clearly didn’t read the script.

The CSKA Moscow defender rose highest to neatly nod the ball over a grounded Hart in the England goal having played almost 92 minutes, with the ball caressing the Three Lions’ far top corner as Russia snatched a share of the spoils at the death.

Man of the Match: Eric Dier

The Tottenham Hotspur ace was probably one of the last players fans expected to score England’s opening goal at the European Championships in France, but his blistering set piece was the game’s most outstanding piece of quality throughout the match. Given Russia’s inability to threaten England’s goal for much of the game, Dier did brilliantly in his predominant role of protecting the Three Lions’ back four.

But having seen captain Rooney and Spurs teammate Kane spurn previous set pieces inside the Stade Velodrome, defensive midfielder Dier took over free-kick duties temporarily to send the England supporters into raptures, plus leave gutted goalkeeper Akinfeev stunned. His strike was worthy of winning any game of football. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, Russia were in no appreciative mood.

What’s Next? England take on fellow home nation outfit Wales in Lens on Thursday afternoon, who currently sit top of Group B after their opening victory, meanwhile Russia go head-to-head with Slovakia in the other resulting tie on the same day.