England 1-1 Russia: Vasili Berezutski cancels out Eric Dier's stunning second-half free-kick to deny Roy's boys three points
- Adam Lallana and Chris Smalling enjoyed early chances for England but both efforts were saved by Igor Akinfeev
- Despite England's impressive first-half performance and dominance from the start, the score was 0-0 at the break
- England eventually found their goal when Eric Dier fired in a wonderful free-kick from just outside the 18-yard box
- A last-gasp Vasili Berezutski header denied England a precious three points as Russia managed to nick a draw
DAILYMAIL
You can view it as desperately unfortunate if you wish. Or you can point to old failings, familiar flaws and vulnerabilities which seemed to be ingrained in the national team.
On a night on which the English nation badly required a lift after a desperately dis-spiriting day of disorder in Marseille, the denouement seemed cruel after a performance which had promised some hope.
England had dominated the game; they were by far the better side, albeit against a thoroughly mediocre Russia. And yet at end they reverted to type, throwing away a lead and allowing a poor side back into a game.
Vasili Berezutski (not pictured) headed the ball over Joe Hart and into the net with 92 minutes on the clock to salvage a draw for Russia
Russia captain Berezutski (right) pumps his fists in celebration after breaking England hearts in stoppage time at the end of the match
Jack Wilshere, a late substitute for Wayne Rooney at the Stade Velodrome, reacts after England conceded a late goal to draw with Russia
Dele Alli (right) and Hart (left) react after conceding a goal very late on in their opening match of Euro 2016 at the Stade Velodrome
Eric Dier (second left) watches his free-kick fly past goalkeeper Akinfeev to give England the lead after 73 minutes in Marseille
Dier (centre) is mobbed by his team-mates after sending a wonderful free-kick into the back of the Russia net to put England ahead
With the world watching, Dier slides on his knees at the corner flag as Tottenham team-mate Alli joins him to celebrate the goal
Tottenham team-mates Danny Rose (left) and Dier celebrate after the latter's free-kick flew into the back of the net with just 17 minutes left
They defended like this in Brazil two years ago, though for much of this game they looked far better than that. But still, two minutes into injury time, having seemingly defended a corner well, James Milner rushed to close down Georgi Schennikov.
It was clearly to be the last serious attack of the game. And in his haste, Milner allowed the Russian simply to push the ball past him and allow just one more dangerous lofted ball into the England area. At the far post, rising above Danny Rose was Vasili Berezutski, whose header looped agonisingly over Joe Hart. Dennis Glushakov got a touch at the death but the ball seemed over the line already.
As the small knot of Russian fans celebrated, the ugliness from earlier spilled over into the stadium. An obvious lack of stewarding meant that when missiles were exchanged between rival fans and the Russians charged at England supporters, French and English fans were left fleeing from gangs of thugs at the final whistle, which came quickly after the goal. It was a scene hardly ever now seen in football and a desperate conclusion to the evening.
On the pitch, England had seemed to be shaking off their tournament woes, playing with some style, creativity and a degree of panache. They have never won an opening game at the European Championships but seemed to have done enough here against a Russian side stripped of its four best players through injury.
'To say we're bitterly disappointed would be an understatement,' said Hodgson. 'To get that close to a victory which would have been deserved, then to lose it with one minute of injury-time to go, it's a tough pill to swallow. But that's football. One doesn't have a divine right to win any game. It doesn't make it any easier for me to accept.
'But it won't take us long to get over it. When we analyse the game, and start preparing for the next game, there'll be a lot of things from tonight's game that we'll want to take forward and hopefully we'll be able to put the memory of that last minute goal behind us.'
It was a real blow though, because winning this group now becomes difficult and that always seemed England's best chance of progressing deep into this tournament.
England came close to taking an early lead when Adam Lallana saw an effort tipped over the bar by Russia goalkeeper Akinfeev
England's players hold their hands behind their heads in disbelief after watching Akinfeev tip Lallana's shot just over the crossbar
Chris Smalling was the next England player to see an effort saved after the centre back fired a free header straight at the goalkeeper
Gary Cahill thwarts a Russian attack as he slides in on forward Fedor Smolov early in the match at Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Harry Kane found the back of the net midway through the first half but the linesman's flag was up, with the striker deemed to be offside
Raheem Sterling desperately stretched to get on the end of a cross as England searched for their first goal of the European Championship
Akinfeev (second right) collects the ball to alleviate the pressure after England centre back Cahill (second left) fired an effort goalwards
And, in moments in the first half, England demonstrated a slickness in possession which genuinely cheered the heart, stirred the soul and suggested that might not be a ludicrous proposition.
Eric Dier, England's goalscorer, was excellent; Raheem Sterling constantly got outside his man, Igor Smolnikov; Adam Lallana was a hive of creative activity. Dele Alli did well, and at the hub of it all was Wayne Rooney, playing in midfield for England for the first time, in a 4-3-3 formation.
England's most technically-gifted player was receiving the ball the most and dictating play. There were some wonderful lofted balls to open up play and one to Kyle Walker on seven minutes had the Tottenham man nodding the ball over Georgi Shennikov before finding Lallana. His sweet strike was well pushed over by Igor Akinfeev. But it showed the aggressive attacking intent which Hodgson has sought to encourage and seemed to bode well.
Russia were quite content to sit deep and allow England to make the running. But England were showed some real style. Kyle Walker and Rose were excellent and Lallana a constant menace.
A lovely move on 22 minutes, started by Dier from the back saw Walker, Alli and Lallana combine passes to cut straight through Russia and set up the Liverpool man, who shot just wide. Two minutes later Lallana then fed Sterling, sprinting away on goal, and only the well-timed, last-ditch tackle of Igor Smolnikov prevented him getting his shot away.
England were even playing out from the back well, though it made a huge difference having Rooney there to run the game from deep.
Russia goalkeeper Akinfeev, who plays his club football for CSKA Moscow, comes flying off his line to punch the ball away from danger
Alli, starting alongside Dier and Wayne Rooney in England's midfield, looks for a team-mate as he takes a throw-in during the first half
Tottenham midfielder Dier (left) puts in a crunching, well-timed tackle on Aleksandr Kokorin during a goalless first half in Marseille
England manager Roy Hodgson will have liked what he saw in the first half despite both sides leaving the pitch goalless after 45 minutes
Captain Rooney fires a free-kick goalwards, but it finds the top of the net and Russia survive another Three Lions onslaught
England defender Rose stays strong to hold off the challenge of Russia's Artem Dzjuba, with the score level at 0-0 in Marseille
Kane looks for a pass as England desperately search for a way through in their opening Euro 2016 match against Russia on Saturday
Rose (right) braces himself for the block as Kokorin fires a shot towards Hart's goal with the scores goalless in the south of France
England and Manchester City goalkeeper Hart dives low to his left and is grateful to see the Russian shot flash past the post
Rooney had a marvellous chance to put England ahead when the ball fell to him unmarked in the middle of the Russia 18-yard area
Rooney (left) found a way through the body of two defenders but Akinfeev produced a remarkable save to keep his clean sheet intact
Tottenham's impressive young midfielder Dier connects with the ball, which then flew past Akinfeev to find the back of the Russia net
Dier slides on his knees in the corner of the Stade Velodrome after netting the opening goal of England's Euro 2016 campaign
Sportsmail's graphic shows the different in height between Russia's goalscorer Berezutski and England defender Rose on Saturday
With England close to securing three points, Russia provided late drama when they equalised through Berezutski (not pictured)
And he even remained a goal threat.
On 35 minutes Alli appeared to be disappearing down a blind alley when he somehow bamboozled three Russian defenders at once, and found Rooney, who struck powerfully for Akinfeev to save.
Unsurprisingly, having been rallied at half time, Russia emerged somewhat better for the second half.
With Rooney caught in possession, Aleksandr Korokin advanced dangerously down the right on 48 minutes and crossed for Artem Dzyuba. By then Rooney had got back to clear.
Yet though Korokin's shot was blocked by Rose on 58 minutes, the chief threat to Hart came from an inexplicable and wayward header from Dier, towards his own goal, which had the England keeper stretching to tip over on 59 minutes.
By now, England's invigorating start had diminished. And in losing their intensity, England invited Russia first real moment of quality from the game, a curling shot from Fedor Smolov just wide of Hart's post on 63 minutes.
Yet just as the game ebbed, England suddenly sprang to life with their closest chance yet. Rose crossed and though a Russian defender cleared, Rooney lurked and struck the ball low, hard and directly on goal.
The majority of the Stade Velodrome prepared to celebrate when Akinfeev diving low to his right stretched out a hand and deflected it on to the bar on 71 minutes.
It seemed the moment had gone. Yet two minutes later Alli was fouled by Schennikov on the edge of the box.
The crowd called for Rooney; Kane stepped up for the free kick yet ran over the ball; and then came Dier, curling the ball beyond the wall and away from Akinfeev.
The grandson of former FA chairman Ted Croker raced to the corner and every team-mate bar Hart, who had his own private celebration, joined him there in a mass of bodies.
The relief was almost palpable. Sadly it was also premature.
England and Chelsea defender Cahill lies dejected on the turf in Marseille after Hodgson's side were cruelly denied three points in France
There were unsavoury scenes after the final whistle as fans from England and Russia clashed in the stands at the Stade Velodrome
Dier, Hart and Rooney sing the English national anthem before the start of their opening Euro 2016 match against Russia on Saturday
Huge England and Russia shirts are held on the pitch as the players line up for the national anthems ahead of their opening match
With the nerves surely beginning to kick in, England's players warm up inside the picturesque Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France
Despite much aggravation outside the stadium in the build-up to the match, England fans inside Stade Velodrome were in high spiritsRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3636942/England-1-1-Russia-Vasili-Berezutski-cancels-Eric-Dier-s-stunning-second-half-free-kick-deny-Roy-s-boys-three-points.html#ixzz4BL3DtqbS
