Euro 2016 - England 2 Wales 1: How they rated

But who stood out for both teams and who should be finding a place on the bench for the rest of the tournament? Here’s how Ed White saw the clash.

ENGLAND

Joe Hart – Will have been disappointed to have let Gareth Bale’s dipping free-kick into his bottom left-hand corner. Looked nervy from an early corner, spilling the ball but had little to do in the second half as Wales sat back and attempted to defend their stranglehold - 5

Kyle Walker – The Sheffield lad grew into the game and was a prominent figure surging forward down the right. He is keeping Nathaniel Clyne on the sidelines with his industriousness going forward. However, bigger challenges are to come from a defensive point of view, which remains the weakness in his game – 7

England 2 Wales 1: England get out of jail with late Daniel Sturridge winner

Danny Rose – Hardly tested in defence and was allowed free reign to wander forward on the left. Long gone are the days of right-sided players filling in on the left ala Phil Neville. Rose provides natural balance, and is a certainty to carry on in the role throughout the tournament - 7

Gary Cahill – Assured and unflappable. Stopped Wales frontman Hal Robson-Kanu having a shot all match and had plenty of time on the ball to distribute wherever he wanted - 7

Chris Smalling – Produced a fine tackle on the edge of the box to halt Robson-Kanu’s charge towards the England box. Almost put the Three Lions ahead at the other end, too. Starting to fit nicely into England’s number five shirt - 8

Eric Dier – Effortless in way he breaks up play and the type of fit defensive midfielder England have been searching since Owen Hargreaves. Another that will have bigger tests moving forward but he kept Arsenal rival Aaron Ramsey quiet and allowed Wayne Rooney to roam around him. The crucial cog in the side - 8

Dele Alli – Not his best outing in a white shirt this season as the fireworks went on around him. Still a giant prospect for England, and has the ability to bring others in the game around him - 6

Wayne Rooney (cap) – Looks at home in a deeper, quarter-back role although needlessly fouled Robson-Kanu to give Gareth Bale his opportunity to strike. Provided a better option than Harry Kane from set piece deliveries and kept his side moving forward. Sure his defensive ability will come under greater scrutiny against higher ranked nations but his distribution around the field and ability to spot space others don’t is a huge asset. Man of the match - 9

Raheem Sterling – Lack of composure in the early moments from Lallana’s sumptuous cross and a peripheral figure on the left. Taken off for Jamie Vardy at the interval. Seems low on confidence and should make way for the crucial Slovakia game - 4

Adam Lallana – Free-running on the wing and should well have had an assist to his name had former Liverpool teammate Raheem Sterling held his nerve. One of the big improvers of the England squad. His place will have been under the microscope at the start of the tournament but his skill and James Milner-esque work ethic puts him firmly in the team going forward - 7

Harry Kane – Rightfully taken off set piece duties and aerial presence almost won England a penalty from Ben Davies’ stray arm. Other than that, he did not show the same movement as Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge in the second half - 5

SUBS

Jamie Vardy – Does what he does best. A poacher’s effort to equal the scores just ten minutes after his half-time introduction and was involved in Sturridge’s winner. Must start against Slovakia, where Martin Skrtel may find his pace too hot to handle - 8

Daniel Sturridge – Found himself with plenty of shooting opportunities early in the second half but pot shots were off radar. Always has been able to come up with crucial goals and will remember his last minute winner for the rest of his life - 7

Marcus Rashford – Pacey and showed why he is an asset off the bench. Brave of Roy Hodgson to throw him on with the game on a knife edge but the youngster scared Wales - 7

WALES

Wayne Hennessey – Made a smart save to deny Wayne Rooney moments before England’s equaliser but was beaten at his near post in the final moments when his side needed him most - 6

James Chester – Dealt tremendously well with England’s attempts to break the Welsh down. Made a number of crucial tackles and had confidence on the ball. His side’s star man - 8

Ashley Williams – Nervy start almost let Kane in before providing a solid figure at he back. However, his header fell to Vardy in an offside position for England’s equaliser and that swung the game England’s way - 6

Ben Davies – Kept Tottenham colleague Harry Kane quiet alongside Williams during the first half but would have conceded a penalty on another day when the ball struck his flailing arm inside the box – 6

Chris Gunter – Had his hands full with Rose enjoying the freedom of the left behind Sterling. Stood up to the task well without impressing - 6

Joe Allen – Started with glimpses of the Welsh Pirlo (or Xavi) so often mooted but became anonymous when England took over in the second half. Needs his team on top of possession to impress - 6

Joe Ledley – Heroically returned from a broken leg to play in the biggest game of his life. Struggled to cope with a superior English midfield despite operating well alongside Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey. Replaced due to tiredness in the 65th minute - 6

Aaron Ramsey – Took a clattering foul by Kyle Walker in the opening 15 minutes and it looked to count against him throughout. His blond locks rarely threatened and dropped too deep as his side tried to hold on - 6

Neil Taylor – Pressed back by an impressive Walker and rarely featured in a forward role - 5

Gareth Bale – Delivered when his country needed with a trademark free-kick. Ineffective until his moment came with only two touches in England’s half. Not much better after it, either. Disappointed other than his goal - 6

Hal Robson-Kanu – Went without a shot despite leading the line for Wales and was rightly replaced by Jonny Williams in the second half. Didn’t have the quality to hurt Cahill or Smalling – 5

SUBS

David Edward – Battled combatitavely in a deep midfield – 6

Jonny Williams – Lively and tricky up against two strong centre-halves. One wayward strike over the top - 7