Wonderful Wales win EURO 2016 Group B and oust Russia
Monday, June 20, 2016
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Russia 0-3 Wales
Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor's early goals were followed up by Gareth Bale as Wales won Group B and eliminated Russia.
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- Wales win to top Group B and eliminate Russia in fourth place
- Aaron Ramsey strikes first on 11 minutes, then Neil Taylor gets first international goal
- Gareth Bale removes all doubt with his finals-leading third goal
- Leonid Slutski offers to step down as Russia coach
- Wales to face a third-placed team in Paris on Saturday
Wales stormed through to the knockout phase of their first UEFA EURO finals as they eliminated Russia and won Group B into the bargain.
No team in France had been as quick out the traps as Wales in their first two games and they were at it again in Toulouse, Gareth Bale forcing Igor Akinfeev into an early save. Come the 11th-minute mark they led as Joe Allen's perfect ball sent Aaron Ramsey clear to calmly chip over the challenging Akinfeev and in.
If the Wales fans were joyful then, nine minutes later they reached new stratospheric heights of elation when Neil Taylor, who had not scored a competitive goal above England's fifth tier – six years ago – was played in by a deflected Bale pass and poked the ball past Akinfeev at the second attempt. It could have been more before the interval, with Akinfeev denying Sam Vokes, preferred to Hal Robson-Kanu and Jonathan Williams up front with Bale.
At half-time Leonid Slutski tried swapping the Berezutski twins – having an unhappy 34th birthday – as Aleksei replaced Vasili. But there was little Russia could do to stem the Welsh tide, and Bale made it three with the outside of his boot. With England held by Slovakia, Chris Coleman's side are, in the words their supporters constantly chanted, "top of the league".
Man of the match: Aaron Ramsey (Wales)
Not for the first time in these finals, Ramsey was the real engine room of the Wales attack and the way he took his goal set in motion what happened tonight at the Stadium de Toulouse. The blond bleach seems to have given him extra powers; move over Super Victor!
Wales combine passion and poise
Whereas most teams have been content to start matches cautiously in this tournament, Wales have gone for it from the off and have netted four first-half goals, twice as many as any other side. Bale is the star yet, as so many have written and said about this squad, it is far from just him. Witness how Allen and the tireless Ramsey combined for the first goal, the graft put in by Taylor and Joe Ledley's incredible recovery from a leg fracture just a few weeks ago to start tonight. Remember, only one man has ever scored a knockout finals goal against Wales – Pelé.
Taylor-made timing
Taylor needed two bites at the cherry to hit the target, but consider this: he had last scored in April 2010, for Wrexham in an English fifth-tier fixture at Grays Athletic. He had not got a goal in 65 previous internationals, not just for Wales seniors but the Under-21, youth and semi-professionals as well as Great Britain's 2012 Olympic team. Not to mention his never having scored in 156 appearances for Swansea City since joining six years ago. One incredible story among many for Wales.
Russia must regroup
For the seventh time in eight major championships that they have reached since the end of the Soviet Union, Russia are out in the group stage. In qualifying Slutski was able to take over the squad and turn around a faltering campaign but, save for the late equaliser against England in Marseille, there have been no consolations here. They at least have two targets to aim for: hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup next summer and the FIFA World Cup the year after that. Preparations begin now.
Team reporters' views from Stadium de Toulouse
Richard van Poortvliet, Russia (@UEFAcomRichVP)
The post mortem will start in the morning as Russia were deservedly humbled by Wales to crash out of a second straight EURO group stage. The heights of UEFA EURO 2008 seem a long way away, and ultimately Russia were just not good enough. They were comprehensively outplayed by a ferociously committed Welsh side, who appeared to want the victory more than their opponents.
Mark Pitman, Wales (@UEFAcomMPitman)
A night that will live long in the memory of Welsh football fans. Manager Coleman handed forward Vokes an unexpected start, but once Ramsey and Taylor had secured the early advantage, there was only going to be one winner. Russia were clearly deflated, and there was more to come. Backed by incredible support, Wales were relentless, Bale striking his third goal in as many outings to seal victory in the second half. With the Real Madrid star at his creative and attacking best, Wales head into the last 16 on the back of their best display for a long time.
Lineups
Russia: Akinfeev; Kombarov, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutski (Aleksei Berezutski 46), Smolnikov; Kokorin, Glushakov, Shirokov (c) (Golovin 52), Mamaev Smolov (Samedov 70); Dzyuba
Substitutes: Lodygin, Guilherme, Shishkin, Neustädter, Yusupov, Shatov, Ivanov, Torbinski, Schennikov
Coach: Leonid Slutski
Wales: Hennessey; Taylor, Davies, Ashley Williams (c), Chester, Gunter; Ramsey, Ledley (King 76), Allen (Edwards 74); Vokes, Bale (Church 83)
Substitutes: Owain Fôn Williams, Ward, Robson-Kanu, George Williams, Richards, Cotterill, Collins, Jonny Williams, Vaughan
Coach: Chris Coleman
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)