Daniel Sturridge emerged from the bench to score the winner as England beat a resolute Wales side 2-1 in Lens.

Gareth Bale gave Wales the lead with 42 minutes on the clock when his well-struck free-kick was pushed into the net by Joe Hart, who really should have saved it.

England manager Roy Hodgson made a double substitution with Sturridge and Jamie Vardy entering the fray for the ineffectual duo of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling at half time.

And Vardy levelled matters with 56 minutes gone when he turned the ball past Wayne Hennessey.

England were in the ascendancy and Hodgson had one more throw of the dice when he introduced Marcus Rashford, meaning the Three Lions had – including Wayne Rooney - four forwards on the pitch for the final 15 or so minutes.

Hodgson’s men made the majority of the running for the rest of the game but looked unable to force the breakthrough until Sturridge struck in injury time.

England move top of the group on four points with Wales and Slovakia on three points each.

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