It was a promising display from the Three Lions on the night, but the fans were left baffled by some of the decisions taken by Roy Hodgson and took to Twitter to vent out their frustration on the former Liverpool and Fulham boss.
The English were left to wonder what could have been as Russia scored a 91st minute equaliser to cancel out Eric Dier’s fantastic free-kick effort in the 73rd minute. The likes of Lallana and Sterling were guilty of squandering a number of golden opportunities as the Three Lions were forced to settle for the solitary point going into their big clash against Wales next week.
There were a host of chances for the English in the first half waiting to be taken, but it needed Tottenham’s Eric Dier to rifle in a free-kick in the second half to send the anxious fans into boisterous celebrations. It was a well taken free-kick from 25 yards out and Twitterati expressed it’s surprise over the strike. Eric Dier was the best player for the England on the night putting up a solid performance from his defensive midfield position to take home the Man of the Match accolade.
Yep, definitely had an Eric Dier 25-yard top-corner free-kick for first #ENG goal
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) June 11, 2016
What a goal!!! Eric Dier take a bow! Lovely free kick 1-0 #ENG
— Jay (@Jay82_LFC) June 11, 2016
Well Eric Dier does know where to find the goal, even if it is ours or theirs
— Yashy Montana (@yashmorar) June 11, 2016
Eric Dier’s 2nd career international goal puts #ENG ahead 1-0
It’s #ENG‘s only European Champioship goal on a direct free kick since 1980
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 11, 2016
Eric Dier’s game by numbers vs. #RUS:
100% tackles won
89% pass acc.
4 clearances
3 interceptions
1 brilliant goal pic.twitter.com/o1TNbAOMzo— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 11, 2016
Eric Dier just did what Louis van Gaal always imagined Phil Jones was capable of.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) June 11, 2016
Roy Hodgson’s team selection and in-game tactics received a lot of flak on social media with the England boss choosing to sideline Jamie Vardy and opt for Raheem Sterling, and surprisingly have Harry Kane, a target man, take set-pieces. The Englishmen desperately lacked a finishing touch with numerous goal-scoring opportunities begging to be put away. The Leicester City striker who has been in red hot form for club and country wasn’t even brought on as a substitute as England eventually let slip their one goal lead in the 91st minute through a goal from Vasili Berezutski.
Harry Kane scores goals so let’s have him taking crap corners !!! Woy what are you doing !!!!
— David May (@DavidMay04) June 11, 2016
Why is Harry Kane taking corners for #England #ENGRUS
— Callum Rogers (@calbcfc69) June 11, 2016
Most overrated manager on the planet, how the hell can you let Kane take the corners? pic.twitter.com/AXsGXTGklh
— Amin San Jose (@EaglesInTheCity) June 11, 2016
Roy’s reasoning behind Kane’s Corners.. pic.twitter.com/FRhSeGf5LC
— 10th Mar 1905 (@10thMar1905) June 11, 2016
Can you stop Kane from taking this corners
Are you LVG in disguise?— Osaro (@osaroosamagie) June 11, 2016
Is the plan for Kane to take all corners till last minute then go in box for last one and score winner. Cos I can’t see why he’s taking them
— Pete M (@sore_rundabud) June 11, 2016
Didn’t deserve that, played very well. One gripe, if you don’t bring Vardy on in that game when else would you? Pace on CA & ageing CB’s.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 11, 2016
Well done @ericdier @HKane @Dele_Alli also walker & rose but think the manager and coaching staff went negative should have vardy on pitch
— Graham Roberts (@GrahamRoberts4) June 11, 2016
Good start individually to the Euros for Allen and Lallana. Criminal not to use Sturridge/Vardy to stretch the Russian defence. Mad decision
— Dave O’Connell (@DaveOCKOP) June 11, 2016
Roy’s got to start Vardy on Thursday but if Stirling is in the starting line up he should be sacked before the game even kicks off #shocking
— Andrew whyment (@andywhyment81) June 11, 2016
Game was crying out for Vardy. Should have been on after 1st goal when Russia had to attack. To stretch them and put game to bed.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 11, 2016
Leaving Jamie Vardy on the bench and bringing James Milner on… pic.twitter.com/wW1Uul6nlj
— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) June 11, 2016
Manager Reactions
Roy Hodgson
The England boss admitted the draw was a bitter pill to swallow and felt more like a defeat. He was quoted as saying, “When you concede with a minute left, it is a bitter disappointment. After one dodgy spell at the start of the second half, if we take away that 15 minutes, we were in total control.”
“I would have been happy with 1-0. At least it wasn’t a glaring error but we go away with a draw rather than a victory.I thought we played well. It feels like defeat because we were preparing to celebrate a victory and we don’t have that possibility now.”
“I’m feeling the same emotions as the players. To say we’re bitterly disappointed is an understatement.It won’t take us long to get over it. When we analyse the game I think there’ll be a lot of things to take forward.”
Leonid Slutski
The Russian boss was impressed by his players’ fighting spirit and lauded his side’s ability to contain a dominant English side. He said, “My players stuck at it until the end and they rescued a point, which is tricky to do. England dominated the match, but we were still able to contain them and their dangerous forwards.”
“We were playing against a 4-3-3 or even a diamond system, so we were prepared for those two different tactical alternatives – we were prepared to play against both systems. We focused on their movement. As for their intensity, we tried to outdo them. That said, England are one of the quickest teams on the planet so I don’t know if we were able to succeed in what I’d planned.”
“As for the new players, both [Roman] Neustädter and [Aleksandr] Golovin showed the level needed in this tournament.”
