ENGLAND
Joe Hart 6
Showed plenty of spirit pre-match, shouting encouragement in the tunnel and leading the anthem singalong, but then the whistle went. In the 10th minute he fumbled a corner and was baled out by a team-mate, and was at fault for Bales’ opener. Fine but far from faultless
Kyle Walker 8
Enjoying an outstanding run of form. Emphatically won the battle for England’s right flank against Neil Taylor, particularly when skipping past him in the 36th minute, and constantly offered himself as an outlet, repeatedly used, especially by Wayne Rooney. His crossing was unreliable, however.
Gary Cahill 6
Uncomfortable in possession – Ramsey once nicking off his toes on the edge of England’s penalty area – and bothered by the physicality and spirited running of Hal Robson-Kanu. Had a couple of chances from set pieces, a first-half header being as close as England came in that period
Chris Smalling 6
Headed just wide from a 36th-minute corner, and handled high balls well in defence. Like his fellow centre-half, he found Robson-Kanu troublesome
Danny Rose 7
In the first half he was significantly less influential than he was against Russia, though he wasn’t helped by Sterling’s lack of movement ahead of him, but he grew as an attacking force and had little defending to do
Dele Alli 7
Worries about his temperament in such a high-pressure game proved unfounded. Was generally safe in possession and his movement around the edge of the Wales area was important
Eric Dier 6
Provided excellent cover for his centre-backs, dropping back if either moved forward, but his distribution was not always reliable, with some over-ambitious (and over-hit) forward passes
Wayne Rooney 8
A good performance in midfield, stretching play with long crossfield passes and driving forward on occasion. Had one well-directed shot saved. Notable for set pieces – he proved more threatening as a taker than Harry Kane was in England’s opening game, and he gave away the free-kick from which Wales scored
Adam Lallana 8
By some way the outstanding member of England’s opening attacking trident. His fine run and pinpoint centre should have led to a goal, only for Raheem Sterling to fluff the chance. There were some excellent touches in congested areas – one backheel flick nearly found Kane – and a lot of good running. Came off with 20 minutes to go
Harry Kane 6
From the first whistle he immediately hared off, chased down the ball, and nearly won possession in a dangerous area. Thus his finest moment came in the first 10 seconds. There was some decent hold-up play, but he was largely peripheral.
Raheem Sterling 4
Another very poor performance. Not only did he miss the outstanding chance of the first half but Lallana’s excellent running made him look static by comparison. Taken off at half-time
SUBSTITUTES
Jamie Vardy 6 (for Kane, h-t)
Came on at half-time, scored with his third touch and set up Daniel Sturridge with his last. He may have been largely peripheral in between, but he made his presence felt at crucial times.
Daniel Sturridge 7 (for Sterling, h-t)
After one optimistic and wayward early shot his decision-making improved, crossing when he might have shot in the build-up to the first goal, and his work in creating and scoring the winner was excellent.
Marcus Rashford 7 (for Lallana, 73)
The teenager looked comfortable and lively, playing mainly off the left flank.
WALES
Wayne Hennessey 6
Can’t be faulted for either goal. Had very little to do in the first half for all England’s possession, but got his positioning right to catch Gary Cahill’s header
Chris Gunter 6
Had a good first half against the out-of-sorts Sterling, but England attacked much more down his flank in the second half, especially after Marcus Rashford’s arrival, and he was repeatedly exposed
James Chester 7
Second-half block to stop Wayne Rooney scoring summed up an afternoon of no-holds-barred defending. He and Gunter ganged up to repeatedly dispossess Sterling in the first half.
Ashley Williams 6
The muscular heart of Wales’s defence made several excellent challenges – one on Rashford in the final moments standing out – but was not error-free. Almost embarrassed by Harry Kane in the first few seconds, he later slipped when fighting Cahill for a Kane free-kick, allowing the defender a header on goal, and accidentally set up England’s first goal
Ben Davies 6
Treaded a narrow line between glory and disaster, twice inadvertently but dangerously handling and once shoving Dele Alli off the ball in his own penalty area, before being booked for treading on Adam Lallana.
Neil Taylor 5
Had a very difficult game against the excellent Kyle Walker, who continually sprinted past him. Put in a couple of decent crosses of his own, but his defensive problems will be remembered longer
Aaron Ramsey 8
Wales’s outstanding player, both when his team had the ball and when they did not. Made innumerable challenges – the most telling on Alli on the edge of his area with 10 minutes to go – and was bright in possession.
Joe Ledley 7
Good tracking and harrying, particularly impressive given that it was his first game back, 40 days after breaking a bone in his leg. Came off after 67 minutes
Joe Allen 7
Repeatedly dropped deep to offer himself as an outlet for his defence but was not often used. When the ball did come his way – often the result of his own efforts – he kept possession well as ever. Good work to block Walker’s late run
Hal Robson-Kanu 6
Fine performance, stretching and hassling England’s back-line. Had no goalscoring chances, but was a spirited and troublesome presence
Gareth Bale 6
As against Slovakia, struck a free-kick firmly but nowhere near either corner and still scored. Good in the air – there was a fantastic but wayward flying header in stoppage time – but accomplished little with the ball. Given a good crossing chance just after half-time he decided instead to fall over and try to win a free-kick, which he didn’t
SUBSTITUTES
Jonny Williams 6 (for Robson-Kanu, 71)
Had two memorable moments, one obvious dive in the penalty area, and one fine turn and run to the edge of the area before shooting high
David Edwards 6 (for Ledley, 67 mins)
Didn’t catch the eye
