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PARIS: Gareth Bale scored in his third straight game at Euro 2016 to guide Wales to a 3-0 win over Russia and then revelled as they qualified for the knockout stages as Group ‘B’ winners after rivals England could only grind out a 0-0 draw with Slovakia.
In its first international tournament since the 1958 World Cup, Wales ended the group with six points, one ahead of England, who also qualify for the round of 16.
With four points on the board, Slovakia still have a chance to make it to the knockout stages as one of the best third-place teams.
Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor also scored in Wales’ easy win in Toulouse against a limp Russian side whose campaign has been tainted by their roughhouse fans.
In the last 16, Wales will play one of the four best third-placed finishers at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday.
Bale said it had probably been his best match with Wales, who are appearing in their first European Championship finals.
“The performance was probably the best I’ve been involved in,” he said.
“We started very well, we didn’t feel too nervous at the start and were very confident,” said Bale. “To top the group, it is a dream for all of us, we said we didn’t want to just make up the numbers and we can’t do more than we have.”
Wales were dominant against a disappointing Russia side, producing an impressive counterattacking display that rested on more than just their talisman Bale.
“As a nation geographically we are small, but if you judge us by passion you could say we were a continent tonight,” Wales coach Chris Coleman said. “These players keep delivering moments that I think they’re not going to top, and they’ve done it again tonight in all fairness.”
SLUTSKY OUT
While Coleman will prepare for the last 16, Russia coach Leonid Slutsky gave a strong hint that he won’t be at the helm for much longer as the country readies to host the 2018 World Cup.
“I think after a type of tournament like this, you need someone else to take charge of the national side for major competitions,” he said via a translator.
Wales came into the competition bursting with confidence. Coleman has inspired an underacheiving group to support Bale as he tears through opposing defences.
After two free-kick goals against Slovakia and England, the Real Madrid forward did it again against Russia.
Arsenal’s Ramsey put the ball behind the ineffective Russian defence to Bale who pushed the ball past goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
The game in Toulouse started with drama in the stadium when police arrested Russian far-right football fan leader Alexander Shprygin who had sneaked back into the country two days after being expelled over fan violence.
The rot started on the field in the 11th minute.
A brilliant Joe Allen ball through the middle set up Ramsey and the peroxide blonde-haired midfielder confidently lifted the ball over Akinfeev.
On 20 minutes, Bale wove through the Russian defence and fed the ball to Taylor, whose last goal was in 2010.
Left free on the left-hand side of the penalty area with only Akinfeev to beat, his first shot hit the goalkeeper but he made no mistake with the second.
ENGLAND FRUSTRATION
For England, there was frustration about their failure to top the group especially after they had come from behind to beat Wales 2-1 in their previous game.
Coach Roy Hodgson took a gamble in team selection by dropping six players from the victory over Wales, including captain Wayne Rooney.
The gamble failed to pay off, even though his team kept the pressure up throughout the game and managed 30 shots in Marseille.
Slovakia, knowing a point could be enough to advance, rarely played in England’s final third.
“Finishing second is a disappointment,” Hodgson conceded. “But we are still in the last 16 and who is to say the team we will play will be that much stronger? You just don’t know. The way we are playing, I am not frightened of anybody.
“I’m pretty sure that sooner or later we’re going to make somebody, pay because if we keep dominating and creating chances like that we’re going to score goals one day,” said Hodgson.
England must now take on the runners-up of Group ‘F’ in Nice next Monday.
Depending on Group ‘F’’s final results on Wednesday it could throw up a clash against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2016
