Euro 2016: Wales surge ahead after a thumping win over Russia

It was an outcome that had seemed unlikely when England beat them 2-1 last Thursday, and the thousands of Welsh supporters could have been forgiven for a feeling of disbelief as they celebrated every touch of the ball with “oles” before finally feeling free to chant “we are top of the league”. 

They will play a third-placed team in Paris on Saturday while England face the Group F runners-up and Wales will go into the knockout stage with realistic hopes of reaching the last eight. The story of the night, however, was a Welsh one. In what had been described as the country’s biggest game since the 1958 World Cup quarter-final, they rediscovered the attacking brio that enabled them to beat Slovakia in the opening game. 

Gareth Bale was close with several fine efforts before becoming the first player since Milan Baros in 2004 to score in three successive games at the European finals. He was outstanding in running at a Russian defence that allowed far too much space to him and Aaron Ramsey, breaking in support of Sam Vokes, the surprise selection in attack in place of Hal Robson-Kanu. 

Russia survived an early Bale chance but were two goals down inside 20 minutes after strikes by Ramsey, named man of the match, and wing back Neil Taylor. Bale made further chances for Vokes and Ramsey before the latter, Wales’ only other regular Champions League player, returned the compliment twice in the second half.