The second day of Euro 2016 saw England open their campaign in usual disappointing fashion, as Chelsea defender Gary Cahill played 90 minutes.
Euro 2016 rolled into the weekend with some more great games. Group B kicked off their campaign on Saturday with England taking on Russia and Wales facing Slovakia. The leftover game from group A between Switzerland and Albania also took place.
Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill played 90 minutes for Roy Hodgson at the heart of the England defence. However, in classic England style, they failed to secure three points despite a dominating performance.
The Three Lions enter this tournament with the normal outlandish dreams of winning the whole thing. They started off the contest in encouraging fashion as they dictated the play. Wayne Rooney, getting the nod in the centre of midfield, pulled the strings in a display that silenced the critics.
The issue is that England could not stick the ball in the back of the net. Multiple chances came and went, but Russia were still hanging on.
They had 15 efforts on goal, but it was a set-piece that put Hodgson’s men up. Eric Dier, of all people, rocketed a free-kick past Igor Akinfeev to give England the lead in the 73rd minute.
🎥 Another look at @ericdier's superb free kick to open #ENG's #Euro2016 account (video courtesy of @BBCSport) https://t.co/xCQW22XJaU
— England (@England) June 12, 2016
It was all looking good at that point, but in a unsurprising twist England messed it up. Due to some atrocious defending (a theme throughout the warm-up games) Vasili Berezutski was allowed to loop the ball over Joe Hart in the second minute of stoppage time.
GOAL! Vasilii Berezutski makes it 1-1 to the Russians. #EURO2016 #ENGRUS https://t.co/7U6MG9ZEzo
— Chippenham Town FC (@ChipTownFC) June 11, 2016
Russia were level at 1-1 and that was how the game ended.
Some were saying that this was the best performance from an England team in years and that it was cruel to be denied three points. The fact of the matter is that they dominated for 90 minutes and the only goal they scored was from a set-piece.
Go figure.
Elsewhere, Gareth Bale gave a glimpse of how Wales will be playing at Euro 2016 as his goal helped them to a victory over Slovakia.
ICYMI: Gareth Bale's goal pic.twitter.com/BLjcdqBQXf
— Footy Vids (@FootyVlNES) June 11, 2016
His tenth minute free-kick wrong-footed the keeper and put the Welsh in front.
However, an equaliser sparked some heroics from Hal Robson-Kanu as he bagged the winner with nine minutes left.
In the early game, Switzerland squeezed past a 10-man Albania team through a Fabian Schar header.
The action is already underway today, with one game completed, one in progress and one to come.
Luka Modric scored a screamer to hand Croatia a 1-0 win over Turkey, adding to the multitude of great strikes that have littered the competition thus far.
GOAL! Luka Modric opens #CRO's #Euro2016 account in style. #TURCRO https://t.co/1Gmb9XMJ3y
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 12, 2016
Poland, meanwhile, are beating Northern Ireland at the time of writing by one goal. Arkadiusz Milik with the neat finish.
Next: Chelsea at Euro 2016: players, manager and transfer targets
Germany are set to take on Ukraine in tonight’s fixture. That should certainly be tasty.