HERO: Sturridge silenced his critics

There were plenty of people who questioned the inclusion of the injury-prone Liverpool striker in the squad and many who thought he would be better off on a beach this summer rather than a pitch in France.

But Sturridge, a player whose body and temperament is best described as fragile, was the hero at the final whistle as he sent Wales crashing to a heartbreaking defeat and England top of Group B.

A calf problem had left serious question marks over whether Sturridge would even make it into Roy Hodgson’s squad, especially after a season wrecked by injury and question marks over his mental strength from club boss Jurgen Klopp.

But one advantage of playing just 26 games for your club is that you arrive at a tournament full of energy and with something to prove.

In fact, the complete opposite of the jaded Harry Kane, who was hauled off at half-time of his 62nd match of the season along with Raheem Sterling, who looks mentally shot to pieces.

As Kane and Sterling departed with England 1-0 down thanks to Gareth Bale's sensational 35-yard free kick, Sturridge and Jamie Vardy entered the game.

They didn’t disappoint, both scoring to leave Wales still searching for a first win against England since 1984.

It was real Roy of the Rovers stuff as England boss Hodgson - so often criticised for being a conservative coach - went for it.

Vardy equalised in the 56th minute although there was touch of fortune to his goal.

Sturridge chipped in with his weaker right foot, rather than shoot with his left. Ashley Williams tried to clear but his header went to Vardy a few yards out who turned and bundled in with his right foot. A Fox in the box, indeed.

Bale appealed for offside, not realising the ball had come off his own captain.

So often England at major tournaments have just fizzled out when they needed to rescue a game. But not this time.

Sturridge, who looked confident and lively from the off, claimed the winner in the second minute of added time - exactly when Russia scored their gut-wrenching equaliser on Saturday.

Vardy was involved and Sturridge showed nifty footwork after a one-two with Deli Alli somehow reached him through a cluster of players.

He deceived James Chester and beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post to score with very little backlift.

Hodgson's punts did not stop with his goalscoring duo though.

He also upped the stakes by sending on 18-year-old rookie Marcus Rashford in the 73rd minute.

The Manchester United kid Rashford was excellent straight away, playing with without a hint of the fear that had gripped England in the first half.

That had seen a throwback to the Three Lions of old, moving the ball around painfully slowly and waiting for something to happen as Wales sat deep.

Sterling should have scored though early on.