Substitute Hal Robson-Kanu was the hero for Wales as they kicked off their first appearance at a major international finals in 58 years with a superb 2-1 win over Slovakia in their opening Group B game.

The striker, who left Reading after last season and is without a club, netted the winner just a few minutes after coming on, giving Wales the lead again after Ondrej Duda had equalised Gareth Bale's opening free-kick.

It was a frantic, pulsating encounter in which both sides slugged each other like a couple of exhausted boxers, periods of dominance by both teams characterising a tournament that even in its early days is shaping up brilliantly.

Bale gave Wales the lead in the first half, hitting home a free-kick from 25 yards to send the Welsh fans into paroxysms of joy. This was their first goal at a major tournament since Terry Medwin scored against Hungary in a group stage play-off at the 1958 World Cup.

The game swung back and forth, with Slovakia taking command in the latter stages of the first half. And they made that dominance pay early in the second period, when substitute Duda let a pass run across his path and shot home with his first touch after coming on.

But just as one sub changed the game for Slovakia, another did for Wales. Joe Ledley fed Aaron Ramsey, who stumbled but managed to find Robson-Kanu, and the forward scuffed a shot into the corner of the net. Plenty of credit must go to manager Chris Coleman, who chose to leave Robson-Kanu out of the starting XI as he carried a knock into the game, but the boss brought him on at exactly the right time.

This sets up Wales brilliantly for the big game against England on Thursday, and gives them a superb chance of qualifying for the second phase. Their celebrations showed a togetherness that has characterised their journey to Euro 2016, and you wouldn't be surprised if they went far in France.

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