Euro 2016: Perfect start for Wales and Bales

Substitute Hal Robson-Kanu scored a joyously celebrated 81st-minute winner as Wales marked their major tournament return by edging Slovakia 2-1 in their opener in Bordeaux.

Playing their first game at a major championship since the 1958 World Cup, Wales took a 10th-minute lead courtesy of Gareth Bale’s fine free-kick, only for Slovakia substitute Ondrej Duda to equalise on Saturday..

But with nine minutes remaining, Robson-Kanu scuffed a shot past Matus Kozacik to send Chris Coleman’s side striding towards the last 16.

His strike ended Wales’ four-game winless run and tees the European Champ-ionship debutants up perfectly for Thursday’s hotly anticipated fixture against England.

Jan Kozak’s Slovakia, previously unbeaten in eight games, tackle Russia in Lille on Wednesday knowing that a second defeat could be fatal.

The match at Stadium Bordeaux had been billed in some quarters as a battle between Real Madrid star Bale and Marek Hamsik, and the Slovakia playmaker was the first to catch the eye.