When it comes to England’s football team, nothing is ever simple.
Trailing to a Gareth Bale strike at the break and contemplating defeat by a Wales team playing in its first major tournament for 58 years — the Euro 2016 finals — there was an all-too familiar feeling about the day.
The headlines were already being written — Roy Hodgson, the England manager, was about to be cast as a public enemy and Wales was set for the most famous victory in its history.
And yet, England, which had labored for so long, somehow managed to do something it had never done before — win a game at a major tournament after being behind at halftime.
Jamie Vardy, a second-half substitute, netted an equalizer 10 minutes after the interval before fellow striker Daniel Sturridge fired home a dramatic winner deep into stoppage time.
It was harsh on a Wales side which had defended bravely for the majority of the contest, with England having dominated the contest both before and after Bale’s long-range effort.
But just as it appeared that England had run out of ideas, Sturridge bundled his way into the penalty area before lashing the ball home at the near post to win the Group B clash.
“It’s a great feeling,” Sturridge told UK match broadcaster the BBC. “Unbelievable. I am grateful to the gaffer for the opportunity and God for allowing me to score. It is a brilliant feeling.
“It is only one more game in the group, so no one wants to get too excited but the atmosphere is unbelievable and the togetherness between the two countries here is unbelievable.
“It is great to help the boys win the game, my brother and my cousin have traveled here to the game and it is great for them to experience this.”
