Vokes starts up front for Wales against Russia

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Wales coach Chris Coleman sprung a surprise as Sam Vokes was handed a starting place alongside Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale for the crunch Euro 2016 Group B match with Russia on Monday.

Hal Robson-Kanu, who scored the winner in Wales’ opening game against Slovakia after coming off the bench, started just in front of Bale in the 2-1 defeat to England last week but he now drops to the bench.

Wales will be looking for Burnley forward Vokes to spearhead their attack against a Russian side that has to win the match to have any chance of staying in the competition, with Bale expected to link-up with Aaron Ramsey.

Russia coach Leonid Slutsky rang the changes following the 2-1 defeat to Slovakia in their last outing, making four altogether.

Dmitri Kombarov, Pavel Mamaev, Denis Glushakov and Roman Shirokov all come into the team, with the latter wearing the captain’s armband.

Starting line-ups for the Euro 2016 Group B match between Wales and Russia at Stadium de Toulouse on Monday (kick-off 1900 GMT):

Teams

Wales (3-5-1-1)

Wayne Hennessey; James Chester, Ashley Williams (capt), Ben Davies; Chris Gunter, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley, Neil Taylor; Gareth Bale; Sam Vokes

Coach: Chris Coleman (WAL)

Russia (4-2-3-1)

Igor Akinfeev; Igor Smolnikov, Vasili Berezutski (capt), Sergei Ignashevich, Dmitri Kombarov; Pavel Mamaev, Denis Glushakov; Fedor Smolov, Roman Shirokov (capt), Aleksandr Kokorin; Artem Dzyuba 

Coach: Leonid Slutsky (RUS)

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)