MATCHDAY 11: Wales Win Group B, England Finish Second After A Goalless Draw Again Slovakia, And More

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All the four teams of Group B contested on match day 11, as Wales and England went through to the Euro 2016 round of 16 stage.

One of the two games was played between Russia and Wales, which the Welshmen won 3-0.

Aaron Ramsey scored the opener in the 11th minute by delightfully chipping the ball over Russian goal keeper Igor Akinfeev and into the back of the net. Neil Taylor doubled Wales’ lead 9 minutes later with his first ever international goal, and star man Gareth Bale capped off a brilliant performance by scoring the third in the 67th minute.

Getting on the score sheet today makes Gareth Bale the first player to score in all the three group games of the European Championship since Milan Baros and Ruud van Nistelrooy back in 2004. The Real Madrid ace is now the top goal scorer of Euro 16 with 3 goals, and also Wales’ top scorer in major finals.

Aaron Ramsay was named the man of the match for what was arguably his best performance for his country, which included a goal as well as an assist.

Having ended the group stage as winners of Group B, Wales will now face the third-placed team from Group A, C or D. Russia, on the other hand, bow out of the competition after managing to secure just 1 point in their 3 group games.

The second game of match day 11 was played between England and Slovakia, which finished in a goalless draw.

England had their fair share of chances throughout the game, and attempted an astonishing 29 shots, but were denied a goal by the strong Slovakian defence.

Eric Dier attempted more number of shots (5),  made more passes (102) and had more touches (115) than any other player on the field, and was therefore, rightly named as man of the match.

Roy Hodgson’s team selection raised quite a few eyebrows, as the England manager chose to leave team captain Wayne Rooney, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane out of the starting line-up.

Hodgson spoke about his selection in the post-match interview: “If we had won the game people would say we didn’t miss them [the players who were left out] and when we don’t they say the team selection is wrong, I am used to that one.

“Finishing second is a disappointment 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.”

Slovakia coach Jan Kozak also had his say: “Our players tired as the game went on and England showed their quality and strength, but when you see an opportunity you give everything you can. Perhaps I didn’t expect to be pressed so deeply but we made some substitutions to neutralise the impact of their attack.”

The 0-0 draw means England have finished second in Group B, and will now face the second-placed team from Group F, which could be either one of Hungary, Portugal, Iceland or Austria, in Nice next Monday.

Slovakia, meanwhile, have finished third with 4 points, and will proceed to the knockout stages if they are one of the four best third-placed teams.

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