Agence France-Presse
Marseille, June 12: Russia captain Vasili Berezutski headed an injury time leveller against England to steal a 1-1 draw in a Group B Euro 2016 encounter marred by a third day of fan violence.
England seemed to be heading for victory when midfielder Eric Dier fired in a 20 metre free kick past Russia’s veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev Saturday. But three minutes from the final whistle, England custodian Joe Hart and his defence took their eye off the ball. Berezutski rose to meet a cross and sent a looping header into the net.
England players walked off disconsolate while there was more violence in the Stade Velodrome as fans left.
England manager Roy Hodgson handed five Tottenham players their major finals debut for the match, leaving Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy on the bench. England had to battle with the injury-depleted Russians to get ahead in the 77th minute however.
England won a free kick on the edge of the area when Russian left-back Georgi Shchennikov impeded Spurs midfielder Dele Alli. After Harry Kane’s dummy run, Gary Cahill created a hole in the defensive wall and Dier stepped up to fire into the top corner of the net. It was England’s first free kick goal in a major tournament since David Beckham scored against Ecuador in 2006. Hodgson must now be concerned about England’s wastefulness however.
The Young Lions’ zest, energy and superior footwork helped create a succession of opportunities in a one-sided opening half that had the Russians struggling to keep pace.
Adam Lallana wasted their best chance when he drilled wide of Akinfeev’s far post just before the half hour. It looked promising for England when Lallana pounced on Kane’s flicked header to send Sterling through the middle, but Igor Smolnikov slid in to clear the danger.
In another encounter, Croatia scripted a 1-0 win over Turkey at Parc des Princes in Paris. Real Madrid mid-fielder Luka Modric scored the all important goal of the match just before the end of the first period. However, they got few goal-fetching chances but failed to score.
Meanwhile, Poland rode on the strike from Arkadiusz Milik in the 51st minute to beat Northern Ireland in the last match of the day.
Violence back to haunt football at Euro 2016
Hundreds of fans charging through streets holding chairs above their heads ready to throw and bloodied, bare-chested men brawling with police – football’s plague of violence has returned with a vengeance in France.
English and Russian supporters fought pitched battles in Marseille ahead of their countries’ Euro Championships opener Saturday, with bottles and cafe chairs flying and clouds of teargas choking the city’s Vieux-Port district.
Later Saturday, the Euro 2016 violence spread along the Mediterranean coast to Nice, where Northern Ireland fans were drawn into fights with local youths, witnesses said. Seven people were injured.
The scenes in Marseille were reminiscent of the 1998 World Cup, when English and Tunisian fans brawled in the port city in some of the worst violence seen at a football tournament.
“There were about 100 Russians. They just came out of nowhere, something was thrown and that started it all off,” said an England supporter.
European football’s governing body UEFA slammed the violence. “UEFA firmly condemns the incidents in Marseille,” said a UEFA spokesman. “People engaging in such violent acts have no place in football.”
It was the third consecutive night of violence involving England fans. Six people were arrested Saturday, adding to seven held in the district Friday night in similar disturbances. Police also broke up fighting involving England fans Thursday. The brawls will also raise concerns about Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup.
UEFA charges Russia
Paris: UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Russia after crowd disturbances in the stadium at the end of the Euro 2016 match against England. Europe’s football governing body said Russia was charged with crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and letting off fireworks. It said sanctions will be decided Tuesday once the Russia Football Union has made its case. At least 35 people have been injured over the weekend in riots between English and Russian football fans. Four of the injured Saturday night are in critical condition, including a 50-year-old Englishman who is now battling for his life.
