Wales vs Slovakia
What a day for Wales.
Fifty-eight years on from their last major tournament appearance, and a first-ever game at the European Championship finals, this has been a long wait for the nation.
Chris Coleman’s side face Slovakia at 5pm with a huge wave of support from inside the ground and back home.And with Gareth Bale in the side, they’re hoping to get through the group stages and surprise a few over the next few weeks.
Speaking ahead of today, skipper Ashley Williams says Coleman’s team talks will fire the team up.
“He is good – he is emotional. If we are not doing the job he is quite calm about it but most of the other times, if we are doing well, he is quite emotional.
“He is a good motivator, that is the main thing. He sets up the scene, whether it is the meeting in the hotel on the day of the game or the one just before we go out, his meetings are very good.”Gareth Bale's dipping free-kick gave Wales a half-time lead and sent their fans into raptures.
Slovakia's Ondrej Duda punished passive Welsh defending to equalise.
But substitute Hal Robson-Kanu's scuffed finish won it for Wales, who now have an excellent chance of progressing to the second round.
Chris Coleman's side face England on Thursday and, with 16 of the 24 teams qualifying for the knockout stages, they can justifiably hope for an extended stay in France.
Absent from major tournaments since the 1958 World Cup, Wales' deafening
fans made for a euphoric atmosphere inside a Stade de Bordeaux awash with red.
Coleman had spoken beforehand about the importance of seizing this historic moment, and his players did so with a wholehearted display.
The wait is over
Slovakia were also making their first appearance in the finals stage of a European Championship and, having beaten Spain in qualifying and knocked Italy out of the 2010 World Cup, they had proved they had a taste for the big occasion.
While Welsh hopes depended heavily on Bale, Slovakia's threat was expected to come from their talisman and top-scorer in qualifying, Marek Hamsik.
The Napoli playmaker lived up to his billing, slaloming his way through Wales' defence after three minutes and appearing certain to score, only to be denied by a brilliant goalline clearance by Ben Davies.
It was a frantic start to the match with both sides seemingly inspired by the magnitude of the moment.
And it was Bale who revelled in it most, striking with a wobbling free-kick that Slovakia goalkeeper Matus Kozacik should have saved.
Coleman's bold call
Coleman's team selection was bold, starting Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams to create a fluid attacking trio with Aaron Ramsey and Bale, while recognised strikers Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes were on the bench.
The decision was vindicated as Slovakia's defence, with an average age of 31, looked uncertain in their attempts to shackle their opponents.
But Jan Kozak's side eventually settled and started to control possession as the match went on.
Their probing paid dividends after an hour when substitute Duda, unchallenged by Wales' backtracking defenders, fired into the bottom corner.
Having initially been rattled, Wales gathered themselves and rallied with a late push for a winner, which eventually came in fortuitous circumstances.
A heavy touch from Ramsey saw the ball land at Robson-Kanu's feet and, although his shot was miscued, it dribbled past Kozacik to seal a precious and much-celebrated victory.MIGMAGING