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Euro 2016 England v Wales preview: Live TV details, kick-off time, team news, odds
We take a look at the Euro 2016 match, including kick-off time, venue, team news, TV schedule and quotes ahead of the game.
From the moment England and Wales were drawn together for the group stage of Euro 2016, tongues started wagging.
What were the chances? The neighbouring nations up against each other, one having suffered 50 years of hurt and the other having endured 58 years in the wilderness?
History and statistics should have made Wales the underdogs, but it's England who come into the match on the back foot after a woefully placid end to their otherwise-impressive match against Russia culminated in the concession of a late equaliser.
Chris Coleman's men, by contrast, never really looked in danger against Slovakia even when the match result stood in the balance, and they have the luxury of going into the match knowing that even a draw will all-but-guarantee them a spot in the last 16.
The build-up to the match has been somewhat ill-tempered -- as you'll see from the Gareth Bale and Jack Wilshere quotes below...
When does England v Wales kick off? Where is it being played?
The England v Wales match kicks off at 2pm on Thursday 16th June. It's being played at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.
How can I watch on TV?
The match will be broadcast live on BBC 1 in the UK, with coverage starting at 1.30pm. International viewers can see their options here.
Stuck at work, out and about or not near a television? We'll have full LIVE coverage of the match at Eurosport.com and on the Eurosport app.
No love lost...
Wales's Gareth Bale and England's Jack Wilshere have been at the forefront of the war of words ahead of the match.
Bale kicked it off a few days ago when he questioned England's commitment to the cause:
"I think we've got a lot more passion and pride about us than them. We'll definitely show that on the day," he said.
"They big themselves up before they've done anything, so we're going to go there and we believe we can beat them....
"I had a chuckle when England came out, I'm not going to lie. It's an amazing game to be involved in and it's like any derby - you never want to lose to the enemy....
"I don't know what it is, but if you're Welsh, we feel more pride and passion than anyone else. Look at the national anthem - everyone sings, the whole stadium. I remember the Belgium game, we were all tired, and the whole stadium just started singing it."
Wilshere hit back on Monday afternoon: "We know that Wales don’t like us. Do we like them? Not really!" Wilshere was quoted as saying.
"We know it is going to be a tough game and there are going to be tackles. It is going to be like a Premier League game.
"It gives us a chance to show the nation we have got a lot of passion. We are here to win and we are here for business."
Team news
England appear highly likely to stick with the same starting XI that played against Russia, given the quality of the performance - and Wilshere hinted as much when he said on Monday that there is "no need to change the game plan". What fans will hope is that, should England take the lead again, Jamie Vardy will be brought on to try and press home the advantage, rather than Roy Hodgson trying to protect the lead and thus trusting on a defence which has always looked the weakest link in the squad.
Wales boss Chris Coleman has a tricky decision to make given the recent injuries to key men, with match winner Hal Robson-Kanu likely to start on the bench as he did on Saturday and Gareth Bale tipped to play up front - possibly as a so-called "false nine" with a free-roaming role. Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is fit having missed the Slovakia win with a back problem
Manager quotes
Roy Hodgson: "[On Bale's accusations about England's lack of desire] I've been in the game sufficiently long to know every opponent has got an opinion. They can have those opinions, but I don't have any doubts personally about our patriotism or desire and that's the important thing...
"[On those who think otherwise] Show me where they've seen that lack of passion and lack of patriotism because I certainly didn't see it. We know who we are, we know what we are. We don't have any doubts about ourselves in that respect."
Chris Coleman: "[On fears that Welsh fans may travel without tickets] It's difficult to say to the Welsh public don't come and sample the atmosphere. It's the Euros - they have been waiting for a major tournament for goodness knows how long. They deserve to enjoy this experience as much as anybody else... The aggression starts on the pitch and it should remain on the pitch. Off the pitch there should not be any aggression."
Match facts
- This will be the 102nd time that England and Wales have played each other, although this is the first instance of them facing off in the finals of a major tournament.
- Wales have failed to beat England in seven of their last eight attempts (W1, D1, L6); their most recent win against their neighbours came back in May 1984, a 1-0 victory in Wrexham.
- This is only the second time England are facing another country from the United Kingdom in a major tournament, after beating Scotland 2-0 at Euro 1996.
- The Three Lions have played in Lens once before, securing a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the Stade Bollaert-Delelis during the 1998 World Cup.
- Wales have only scored twice across their last eight meetings with England; failing to get on the scoresheet in the last four matches played against their neighbours.
- Mark Hughes is the last Welsh player to score against England; it was in May 1984 (1-0).
- England have scored at least once in six of their last seven attempts versus the Dragons, but never more than twice in this run, the last time they scored three or more was in 1978 (3-1 in Cardiff).
- Wales have conceded in each of their last five games (including friendlies), their worst run of conceding since March 2013 (11).
- England have failed to score more than once in 13 of their last 14 matches at a major tournament (World Cup and EURO finals).
- England mustered nine shots against Russia in the first-half, their most in a EURO finals match in the opening 45 minutes since 2004 (11 v Croatia).
- At 25y 293d, England’s starting 11 against Russia was their second-youngest ever at a major finals after the 2002 World Cup clash with Sweden (25y 206d).
- Ramsey has had a hand in three goals in his last three games for Wales (two goals, one assist).
- Jamie Vardy has scored in three of his last four appearances for the Three Lions.
- Gareth Bale has scored 14 of the 31 Wales goals under Chris Coleman since he took charge of his first game in February 2012 (45%).
- Wayne Rooney has scored in seven of his last eight competitive appearances for England.
Latest odds
England 3/5
Wales 6/1
Draw 16/5
