Daniel Sturridge’s last-minute winner sparked jubilant celebrations. A second consecutive draw would have thrown England’s qualification from Group B into serious jeopardy, and the decisive goal was a cathartic moment for anxious supporters waiting for lift-off in France.
It also provided vindication for Hodgson. The England coach was widely criticised for his conservatism in the wake of the Russia game, when he shunned a wealth of attacking talent to bring on Jack Wilshere and James Milner before Berezutski’s header looped agonisingly over the line in stoppage time.
England found themselves in trouble again in Lens, when Gareth Bale, who had relished the role of antagonist in the build-up to the game, sent a 35-yard free kick past a floundering Joe Hart to give Wales a first-half lead. A change in approach was required, but few could have expected such an emphatic response from Hodgson.
The 64-year-old had never previously made a substitution earlier than the 60th minute at a major tournament, but there were two at half-time as Jamie Vardy and Sturridge replaced the struggling Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. England had 68 per cent of the possession in the first half, but aside from Sterling’s glaring miss in the seventh minute, the lack of cutting edge had been obvious.
England immediately looked more threatening with Hodgson’s revamped attack. A couple of wild efforts from Sturridge brought groans of frustration from the England supporters inside the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, but the second period was only 11 minutes old when he turned provider for Vardy’s equaliser.
The Liverpool striker’s delicate cross bounced off Ashley Williams, and there was Vardy to swivel in the six-yard box and apply the finish with only his third touch of the game. It was his fourth goal in five appearances for the national team, and his ninth in 10 for club and country. The two substitutes had combined, and the momentum was suddenly with England.
The chances kept coming as England poured forward and Wales struggled to cope with their new-found intensity. Vardy almost connected with a Kyle Walker cross and Sturridge miss-kicked an inviting centre from Danny Rose. Hodgson responded by rolling the dice again, bringing Marcus Rashford on for Adam Lallana to become the youngest England player to appear at the European Championships.
It was a risky move that could have left England exposed to Wales’ counter-attacks, but Chris Coleman’s men had tired and England spent most of the closing stages camped in their opponents’ half, with 14 of their 20 shots on goal coming after the interval.
Time was running out to grab the winner but Sturridge showed commendable patience for the goal, waiting for the right moment to slide the ball into Vardy. The Leicester stiker touched it to Dele Alli, who had cleverly escaped the attention of Aaron Ramsey, and his flick found its way back to Sturridge to provide the finish. Once again, the two half-time substitutes were at the heart of it.
Hodgson leapt to his feet and Gary Neville charged down the touchline as England savoured the moment. “There was a lot of criticism of Roy Hodgson, the changes and the way he managed the 90 minutes against Russia,” said former England manager Steve McClaren in the Sky Sportsstudio. “There’s no question that now, everyone is back on side.”
The result completely changes the landscape for Hodgson’s side. A draw would have them third in Group B. Instead they sit top. This was the first time England have come from behind to win at a major tournament, and their destiny is in their own hands ahead of their final group game against Slovakia on Monday night.
Hodgson must now decide how to approach that game in St Etienne. But after his boldness rescued England in Lens, more of the same could be the key to building momentum.
Name: Daniel Watson