England 2-1 Wales

It looked like Wales had done enough to hold on to a vital 1-1 draw yesterday, until Daniel Sturridge wormed his way into the box and fired England to victory in the 91st minute.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Sturridge after. “Unbelievable. I am grateful to the gaffer for the opportunity and God for allowing me to score. It is a brilliant feeling.

“It is only one more game in the group, so no-one wants to get too excited but the atmosphere is unbelievable and the togetherness between the two countries here is unbelievable.

“It is great to help the boys win the game, my brother and my cousin have travelled here to the game and it is great for them to experience this.”

Joe Hart allowed Gareth Bale’s 35-yard free kick to find the net before the break, with the Real Madrid striker bitterly disappointed this side could not hold on to the point.

Bale said: “Obviously it is massively disappointing but I am very proud of everybody. We gave everything like we always do and I have said before if we go out but have given 100 per cent then we can’t do any more.

“We are disappointed at the moment but we are strong inside and the tournament is not over yet. We will go into the next game with even more strength.

“We keep fighting all the way. We will keep fighting to qualify.”

With England supporters screaming for Jamie Vardy and Sturridge to be introduced at the break, it seemed Roy Hodgson heard the message and threw the two strikers onto the pitch.

Within minutes, the move was justified. Sturridge’s cross was headed back towards goal by Wales skipper Ashley Williams. Vardy converted as the Wales players protested the Leicester striker was offside. But the linesman made the correct decision as the ball had come off a defender.

Williams remained positive, believing that Wales can get out of the group.

“It is tough for everybody obviously but we have another game on Monday and it is a quick turnaround so we won’t get down about it. It hurts obviously, we were close to getting a point but we didn’t but we will get over it.

“You haven’t done enough until the final whistle blows. We’ve seen late goals in this tournament, it wasn’t that we switched off.

“It will be fine. A few of us have spoken, the manager has spoken, we will regroup and get over it. At the end of the day we have three points from two games and we will focus on the next game and getting out of the group.”