Russia 1-2 Slovakia, Uefa Euro 2016 - Marek Hamsik screamer the difference in Group B clash

That's it! Slovakia move up to second ahead of England in Group B. Russia are rock bottom and need a minor miracle to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Marek Hamisk's individual brilliance proved the difference in the first half, providing his side's opener and adding a sensational second himself. Russia lucked out against England, but their lack of invention has cost them today.

FULL TIME: Russia 1-2 Slovakia

A Slovakia defender gets his head to it and the referee blows for full-time!

It's shifted onto Ignashevich who hammers on goal but a deflection takes it wide for a corner. Last chance for Russia!

Skrtel sticks his arms out and gives away a cheap free kick 30 yards out from goal. This could be Russia's last chance.

Do Russia know they still need an equaliser here? Needlessly tentative passing at the back wastes precious seconds before Ignashevich finally lurches forward and tries to switch play. His ball is horribly overhit however and sails out of play.

Three minutes of time added on.

Russia close again! Smolnikov's cross deflects out to Gulshakov on the edge of the box, inviting him to take the half volley on but his wicked effort veers just wide.

Kozácik comes out to claim a Russia corner and gets nowhere near it, but luckily for him Pekarík is behind him to nut it clear.

Five minutes left here and Russia are suddenly in the ascendancy.

Russia pull one back! Glushakov darts onto a neat ball across goal from Oleg Shatov and glances a precise header past Kozácik. But Russia could be in trouble here, a flare has gone off in their end. That's a no-no, according to Uefa, with a suspended disqualification hanging over them.

Goal! Russia 1-2 Slovakia (Glushakov, 81)

Here is Russia's final change, Shirokov comes onto replace the ineffective Kokorin.

Smolov shows neat foot work to beat his man on the edge of his own penalty area and bursts down the length of the pitch, trying to do it all on his own. Pecovsky steps across to him and sends the Russian sprawling. They have the free kick, but once again, it's a total waste.

Another change for Slovakia, Weiss' afternoon is over, he is replaced by Dusan Svento.

There are 20 minutes remaining in Lille, Russia are still no closer to finding a goal.

Half a chance for Smolov as a great ball in from the right falls to him six yards out from goal. He hits it first time, but Durica leaps across to make a telling block.

A neat exchange frees Kokorin on the edge of the D, inviting the forward to shoot, but his effort loops into the path of Kozácik who can come out and collect.

There is a moment of confusion in the box between Skrtel and Kucka as the ball drops between them, allowing Kokorin a second to pounce onto the loose ball but the Russia forward is penalised for a high boot.

On current viewing, Russia haven't got a chance of hauling their way back into this contest.

Russia aren't helping themselves here. The counter comes again and it is four on four with Shatov leading the charge. He has options to his left, right and through the middle, but the midfielder instead takes the shot on himself, blazing a hugely disappointing effort well over the bar.

Mak tries to dance through the heart of the Russia defence but Berezutski robs him of the ball and Russia can counter. Smolov tears down the other end, trying to offer an outlet, but again Russia pick the wrong pass and Slovakia can come again, with Mak stinging Akinfeev's palms with a powerful drive.

Dzyuba is left in a heap following a typically heavy challenge from Skrtel but no foul is given.

Leonid Slutsky made two changes at half-time by the way, with Roman Neustadter and Aleksandr Golovin coming off for Pavel Mamaev and Denis Glushakov.

And Durica is booked after 15 seconds. Good effort.

And we are back underway for the second-half.

Slovakia were unlucky to leave with nothing against Wales on Saturday but they have responded in splendid fashion this afternoon with Marek Hamsik the difference against Russia. The Napoli star brilliantly supplied Vladimir Weiss' opener before notching one himself with a goal of the tournament contender.

Russia entered this match with the threat of expulsion hanging over them. It might not matter too much in 45 minutes time.

Half-time: Russia 0-2 Slovakia

That is sensational from Hamsik! The best player on the pitch has sealed a sublime first-half with an a sensational strike to double Slovakia's lead. From a tight angle just inside the left of the box, the Napoli playmaker darts inside past his marker arrows a thunderbolt into the top corner that bounces off the inside of the post and back into the other corner of the net. Stunning finish.

Goal! Russia 0-2 Slovakia (Marek Hamsik, 44)

Skrtel looks to have misjudged a looping ball over the top with Smolov on his tail but the Liverpool defender recovers well, turning onto the ball and knocking it clear.

Hamsik has been the best player on the pitch during this half and again threatens to cause havoc, dribbling past a handful of challenges before letting fly with a shot from the edge of the box but he can't keep this one on target.

Smolov's delivery is downright abysmal, failing to beat the first man. It comes back to him but his second effort isn't much better, looped straight onto the noggin of Skrtel who comfortably clears.

Russia win a free kick just to the left of the box as Kucka knocks Dzyuba to the ground.

Poor defending from Russia's right-back Smolnikov who was caught in no man's land, allowing Weiss to scamper in from the left and drill into the far corner. Slovakia lead with just over five minutes of the half remaining.

Slovakia have the lead! Hamisk picks out Weiss' run down the left with a superb long range pass, dropping it in behind Smolnikov who is caught out of position up field. The former Manchester City starlet calmly cuts inside onto his right and smashes a precise effort into the far corner past Akinfeev.

Goal! Russia 0-1 Slovakia (Wladimir Weiss, 31)

Russia come forward menacingly again. Dzyuba takes the ball under his spell and drives towards goal before shifting the ball inside to Smolov. He takes the ball on a couple more yards before letting fly with a daisy cutter but it rolls just wide of Kozácik's far post.

Weiss is played into space down the left by Hamsik and tries to dance his way inside. He has the chance to return the ball to the Napoli playmaker but Berezutski nips in first and sweeps the ball clear.

Neat stuff from Russia. Smolnikov comes forward from right back, playing a neat one-two with his man inside before lifting an inviting ball into the six yard area. It's meant for Kokorin, but Dzyuba instead leaps onto it and his tame header is easily collected.

Russia are, albeit very slowly, waking up a bit here.

Dzyuba takes the ball down brilliantly over on the inside right channel and looks to burst into the box with Durica for company. The Slovakia defender keeps his eye on the ball however and wins it cleanly with a good challenge that knocks the ball out for a corner.

Russia lurch forward with Kokorin doing well to win a header and knock it onto Smolov, who is invited to take on the half volley from 25 yards out. He shouldn't have bothered, sending his effort well wide.

There's been no real chances to speak of in these opening 15 minutes, with Marek Hamsik's ambitious half volley the only effort of note.

Jan Durica winds one back from the free kick but is tame effort isn't troubling Akinfeev.

Kucka advances through the centre and but is quickly swamped by a crowd of Russia defenders, all who have a nibble at him before Golovin eventually hauls him down. Slovakia have a free kick about 30 yards out.

It's been a very scrappy start here, but Hamsik tries to liven things up with a decent effort from range. Russia lose the ball too easily and the Napoli playmaker advances, taking on the shot on after a favourable bounce, but can't keep his effort on target.

Marek Hamsik enjoyed a brilliant start in his last game, terrorising the Wales defence inside the opening 10 minutes. Here, he's just sent a pretty woeful pass straight out of play.

Mak scampers down the right flank for Slovakia before winning a free kick off Mamaev. He pings the free kick into the near post but Aleksander Kokorin is back doing his bit in defence and nuts it clear.

Not for the first-time this week, Russia kick-off. This time they are just getting the match started, mind.

We are almost ready for kick off in Lille.

Time for the anthems.

Just five minutes until kick-off at the Stade Piere Mauroy, here's another look the Russia and Slovakia starting XIs.

The roof at the Stade Piere Mauroy will be closed for this afternoon's game to keep out the rain expected to fall in Lille this afternoon, and not to prevent Russian Ultras abseiling their way in.

While there has been no suggestion of trouble outside the ground today, Russia still have the threat of suspension hanging over them. Any repeat of the scenes that unfolded at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday will see them thrown out of the competition - if Uefa stick to their word.

As far as the threat of more crowd trouble is concerned, no news is good news as kick-off approaches.

A little more on the match itself; Slovakia are looking to bounce back after their opening day defeat to Wales and keep their hopes of qualifying from the group stage alive. Slovakia played well against the Welsh and got nothing for their trouble, while Russia were woeful against England but pinched a point. But such is life.

The expanded format of this year's competition that even another defeat for Slovakia wouldn't end their hopes of escaping the group, but they probably wouldn't mind a positive result today.

IBTimes UK reporter Paul Wright is in Lille where he has been speaking to Slovakia and Russia fans ahead of kick-off following reports of more clashes with England fans on Tuesday. One Slovakia fan told him:

What happened last night – I think the English fans were to blame. The English media has twisted things.

"They were shouting things like "f**k off Russia", and were kicking a football in the square and laughing when it hit people.

"The Russian fans I've met have been great – we will never fight them, they are our friends.

BREAKING: Slovakia team to face Russia

Kozacik, Pekarík, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan, Pecovsky, Kucka, Hamsík, Mak, Weiss, Duda

BREAKING: Russia team to face Slovakia

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

Thousands of fans are beginning to filter into the stadium, including our Steve Busfield. As you would expect, security has been beefed up and it is causing a few delays getting in.

As you can see from the pictures below, the Russia fans out in force this morning were a calmer bunch than those who ran riot in Marseille at the weekend with their Sovakia counterparts also in good cheer.

That security scare earlier this afternoon would appear to have been a very minor one; players from both teams are currently out on the Stade Pierre-Mauroy pitch an hour away from kick-off.

Amid all the concern over more violence in the stands and in the streets, you'd be forgiven for forgetting there is the small business of a football match this afternoon. Confirmed team news should be with us shortly, with Denis Glushakov hopeful of earning a starting berth in the Russia midfield. The 29-year-old only managed the final 10 minutes of the 1-1 draw with England due to a calf strain.

But on the supporters' front, things all appear rosy - so far.

Less than an hour and a half ahead of kick off, there has been a minor security scare at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy relating to a suspect package inside the stadium. According to reporters from the Mirror and the Daily Telegraph, entrances were temporarily closed but have once again opened.

Things have been all quiet so far as we count down to kick-off, however. IBTimes UK reporter Paul Wright is in Lille this afternoon; we will have updates from him throughout the afternoon.

The threat of more trouble appeared to be looming large on Tuesday evening when small scuffles reportedly broke out in Lille city centre. Pictures showed a small group of Russian fans taunting and throwing chairs at a group of England supporters a t the Palais De La Biere.

After a late equaliser rescued a point against England four days ago, Russia are hoping to take a step towards qualification for the knockout stages of Euro 2016 against Slovakia this afternoon. Whatever happens on the pitch might prove to be irrelevant, however.

The threat of disqualification looms over the hosts of the 2018 World Cup following the scenes that unfolded at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday 1 June. Three days of violence in Marseille culminated in sections of the Russian support charging England fans in scenes Uefa described as "totally unacceptable", prompting European football's governing body to announce any repeat of that will see Russia booted out of the competition.

But the prospect of more violence lingers. While England and Wales face off in nearby Lens on Thursday, fans without tickets have been instructed to travel to Lille to watch the game. An estimated 15,000 Russian fans are already in the city, with French authorities drafting in 4000 extra police in preparation for more trouble.
It could be a long afternoon.

IBTimes UK will be keeping a close eye on everything happening in Lille up until kick off and will have live coverage of the match itself at the Stade Pierre Mauroy from 2pm. We will also have live updates from our reporters in the French city throughout the day.