Vardy scores in England comeback
He got it wrong and began to stare into the abyss, but just when England's Euro 2016 prospects appeared to be turning to dust, Roy Hodgson went for broke and hit the jackpot with substitutes Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge securing a dramatic victory against Wales in Lens.
Trailing to Gareth Bale’s 40th minute free-kick-, following a terrible mistake by goalkeeper Joe Hart, England appeared to be heading into a dead-end with Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane struggling to justify Hodgson’s faith in the attacking pair. But a half-time switch, hauling off Sterling and Kane for Vardy and Sturridge, proved decisive, enabling England to turn the tide and unlock a door which had previously been slammed shut.
Sturridge’s winner, two minutes into stoppage time, saw England claim three points and move to the top of Group B and virtually confirm qualification for the knock-out stages.
And having found a way to win, Hodgson will surely now stick with the formula which accounted for Wales when England face Slovakia in St Etienne next Monday. Needing a victory to lift the mood and put themselves in pole position in the group following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Russia in Marseille, England at least had the omens on their side going into the game.
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