England coach Roy Hodgson applauds his sub bench

England's Vardy scores a goal against Wales

Roy Hodgson celebrated one of the most “amazing” victories of his career after super-sub Daniel Sturridge saved England's Euros.

Sturridge sparked an out-pouring of emotion with a dramatic injury time winner to as good as guarantee the Three Lions a place in the knock-out stages.

Hodgson gambled by sending on Sturridge and Jamie Vardy as half time substitutes and their goals erased the pain of conceding a last gasp equaliser against Russia at the weekend.

England boss Hodgson said: “It’s certainly two different ends to the spectrum. It’s a long time since myself and the coaching staff have showed such joy at a goal. That’s because that goal the other night put us under a bit of pressure.”

Assistant coach Gary Neville sprinted down the touchline to join in the celebrations after Sturridge’s winner and Hodgson added: “When the chances don’t go in and you’ve compounded your task by conceding that Gareth Bale goal, it really is a happy moment when both the substitutes score.

“It is amazing. We played so well against Russia and conceded in the 93rd minute and today we worked so hard in the second half and pushed and pushed and then scored in the 92nd minute, I suppose it shows things do even out but it is rare to see them even out in the space of two games.

“If I had been watching from afar and not been with England and watching Wales play some other opponent I would have felt very sorry for them but they will have to excuse me not feeling sorry for them because I want to be pleased with ourselves.”

Hodgson, 68, also admitted it was probably the best double substitution of his long career, with Vardy cancelling out Gareth Bale’s 42nd minute opener, a free kick that beat Joe Hart from 35 yards, before Sturridge’s late, late winner.

Hodgson added: “When you’ve been in football a long time, you find it hard to remember. It’s certainly my best double substitution of these Euros, albeit after two games. Subs will play a major part in this tournament. The games come thick and fast.

 “Each team has 23 players. In those 23, there’ll be a lot of players who feel hard done-by when not selected. You sometimes find it hard to look beyond them.

“It’s going to be a feature of the tournament. Watching France play Albania last night, it was a similar situation when Pogba and Griezmann came on, which helped France get the victory they deserved.

 “It was great to have someone like Vardy to step into his shoes, and Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge, in particular, to come on and give us something different when we need to ask questions of a packed defence.

“Four points from two games is the minimum we deserve from the two performances. We got incredible support, the Welsh got incredible support and and they saw an unbelievably exciting game.

“We are happy but Wales should be happy playing their part in such a good occasion.”

 

By Ochieng Oyugi 35 mins ago
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Will Fourmaux finally break M-Sport Ford jinx in Naivasha?
By Ben Ahenda 2 hrs ago
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Tundo revs off first as Ruto flags off Safari
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Speed, fun and drink as Safari Rally action takes over 'Vasha'
Football
Kenya's Talanta Hela U19 boys win Costa Daurada Cup in Spain