Saturday 18 June 2016 09:49, UK
Ray Wilkins says Roy Hodgson will have felt relieved rather than vindicated that his bold double substitution paid off against Wales.
Two goals from substitutes Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge saw England secure a last-gasp 2-1 victory after Gareth Bales' free-kick had put Wales ahead in Lens on Thursday.
But former England midfielder Wilkins says Hodgson should have gone with a more attacking approach from the start rather than relying on what some have seen as an inspired double substitution.
Wilkins, speaking on Sky Sports News, believes Hodgson had no choice.
"It was always going to be a very difficult game for [England] - everything was built up to be a massive encounter and that's exactly what it was," he said.
"It was very difficult to break [Wales] down but I think he'll be relieved this morning that we've actually got our first win under the belt."
Wilkins said he had been hoping Hodgson would have gone with the Vardy and Sturridge system from the start, saying Raheem Sterling should never have started the opening game against Russia because he is suffering a big lack of confidence.
He added: "The personnel was wrong against the Russians. I think we'd have beaten the Russians playing two up front and if we'd have done the same yesterday and gone after the Welsh then it wouldn't have been so dramatic, I feel, in the second half."
He would have preferred to have seen a more attacking line-up from the start, with Sterling ditched to allow Vardy to partner Kane up front, perhaps with Adam Lallana sacrificed to play Sturridge.
Former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino agreed, saying there was a huge pressure on Hodgson.
"Your job's on the line," said Cascarino. "You're losing in a tournament 1-0 against Wales, who weren't particularly great in the first half but were causing some sort of problems.
"His team selection wasn't working. He had to change it and he had to change it quick.
"Like we saw with [France coach] Didier Deschamps, [Hodgson] absolutely nailed it," Cascarino added. "He got the players he wanted on the field to change the dynamics of the football match because they were in trouble and they had to find a way.
"Sometimes you have to make big decisions and Roy did.
"To be fair, that's been the whole question about Roy, hasn't it? Sometimes there's a conservatism around his football that people don't feel he'll make that ruthless decision - well, he did."
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