Date: June 15, 2016

Result: Russia 1 Slovakia 2

Scorers:

Russia: Glushakov 81

Slovakia: Weiss 32, Hamsik 45

Venue: Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

Match overview:

Marek Hamsik produced the best individual performance of the tournament so far to lead Slovakia to a 2-1 victory over Russia in Lille. Russia tried to play more open game than against England but left themselves vulnerable at the back. Their defensives lapses were exploited by Slovakia and their brilliant midfielder Hamsik, who set up Vladimir Weiss for the opening goal and scored a brilliant second himself. Russia staged a late rally, scoring through Denis Glushakov prompting a furious final few minutes. Russia had been threatened with expulsion from the tournament if their fans misbehaved. But the Russian players did their best on to ensure an early exit with their performance on the pitch.

Key moment:

Hamsik’s goal just before half-time. The Napoli midfielder took advantage of slack Russian defending at a corner to collect the ball on the left-hand flank and turn inside Oleg Shatov. From a tight angle, he still had a lot to do, but he struck a spectacular shot that flew past Igor Alinfeev and crashed in off the far post. The game’s outstanding player had dealt Russia a hammer blow.

Man of the match:

Marek Hamsik set up Slovakia’s first goal for Vladimir Weiss with a sumptuous pass, then scored a spectacular goal just before half-time to put Slovakia firmly in control. The outstanding individual performance of the tournament so far.

Matter of fact:

Vladimir Weiss became the first player to score at the European Championship while playing for a non European club (Al Gharrafa, Qatar)

Talking point:

The game was played under a closed roof in the Lille Metredome because of the wet weather. It did not subdue the atmosphere: Slovakia fans, backed by a drum, made a racket through the whole 90 minutes. A flare was let off in the Russian end when substitute Denis Glushakov pulled a goal back, prompting speculation that UEFA could now act on its threat to expel Russia. But the players had done a pretty good job themselves of ensuring an early exit.

Stats:

Goal attempts

Russia: 14

Slovakia: 9

Attempts on target

Russia: 2

Slovakia: 3

Corners

Russia: 5

Slovakia: 5

Line-ups:

Russia

01 Igor Akinfeev

03 Igor Smolnikov

04 Sergei Ignashevich

05 Roman Neustadter (08 Glushakov 46)

09 Aleksandr Kokorin (15 Roman Shirokov 75)

10 Fedor Smolov

13 Aleksandr Golovin (11 Mamaev 46)

14 Vasili Berezutski

17 Oleg Shatov

21 Georgi Schennikov

22 Artem Dzyuba

Starting formation: 4-2-3-1

Akinfeev – Smolnikov, V Berezutski, Ignashevich, Schennikov – Golovin, Neustadter – Kokorin, Shatov, Smolov – Dzyuba

Slovakia

23 Matus Kozazik

02 Peter Pekarik

03 Martin Skittle

04 Jan Durica

07 Vladimir Weiss (13 Dusan Svento 72)

08 Ondrej Duda (11 Adam Nemec 67)

15 Tomas Hubocan

17 Marek Hamsik

19 Juraj Kucka

20 Robert Mak (21 Michal Duris 79)

22 Viktor Pecovsky

Starting formation: 4-3-2-1

Kozacik – Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan – Kucka, Pecovsky, Hamsik – Mak, Weiss – Duda

Yellow cards:

Russia: none

Slovakia; Durica 46

Referee: Damir Skomina (Sln)

Attendance: 38,989