Wales 2-1 Slovakia, Uefa Euro 2016: Bale and Robson-Kanu goals down Slovakia

Well that is all we have time for on this European Championship live text. Head over to our live blog for coverage of England vs Russia, our final game on this Saturday evening. See you on the other side.

Full time: Wales 2-1 Slovakia

Chris Coleman's team mark 58 years since their last major tournament with victory over Slovakia. Gareth Bale opened the scoring, and though Andrej Duda levelled, substitute Hal Robson-Kanu netted with eight minutes remaining to grab the three points. Could that be the win which eventually puts Wales through? Who knows but a massive moment for Welsh sport.

Wales survive Slovakia's best chance since they went behind for a second time, as Mak smashes a volley over the bar. Four minutes added on.

Jazz Richards on for Aaron Ramsey for Wales. Slovakia have them penned in but can they level?

Wales should have it rapped up on the break. Bale feeds Ramsey, but he can't find the space to shoot and Slovakia smuggle the ball out of play.

Slovakia almost equalise straight away. Another substitute in the form of Adam Nemec heads goalwards and it clatters against the post and eventually to safety.

Goal: Wales 2-1 Slovakia (Hal Robson-Kanu)

Despite being on the back-foot for most of the second half Wales are back in front with eight minutes remaining. Ramsey gets in behind the midfield and after he jinks past Skrtel his pass finds Robson-Kanu who scuffs his shot beyond Kozáčik.

Aaron Ramsey with the chance to build some pressure from a free-kick, but his ball is punched clear by Kozacik.

The game is only going one way at the moment with Slovakia in complete control. Half a chance now for Wales as Hal Robson-Kanu crosses and Ramsey unmarked heads over. Huge opportunity.

Robert Mak has been terrific in this second half since coming and and he shoots from 25 yards, but Ward can watch it go over. Joe Ledley, five weeks on fom breaking his leg, and Hal Robson-Kanu on for Wales to try and turn the tide.

Duda joins illustrious company.

Danny Ward gets down to make a good save from Kucka as he struck from range. Wales really under the cosh now, and they can't get their foot on the ball.

Their lead is gone and Wales could be about to lose their captain Ashley Williams who has limped away from a challenge on the edge of the box and is moving extremely gingerly. Slovakia's tails are up.

Goal: Wales 1-1 Slovakia (Ondrej Duda)

Slovakia cut Wales wide open with relative ease to level. Mak brushes off Ramsey and finds substitute Duda, who has just come on, and he steers the ball beyond Ward.

Gareth Bale is a livewire in this game and he almost puts Wales two up, but Kozacik pushes the ball away. That threat will only increase is Slovakia continue to throw players forward.

Slovakia's best chance for some 50 minutes or so as Robert Mak breaks through but under pressure from Davies fires off harmlessly.

A quiet start to the second half illuminated by a nice run from Jonny Williams, who darts past two Slovakian players before being being hacked down by Kucka. Solid start to the second half from Wales.

Back under way in Bordeaux.

Players coming out for the second half in Bordeaux. Think it is vital that Wales get hold of the ball a little bit more in this second half, as they spent long periods without it in the opening 45 minutes. Slovakia will hope their opponents tire and continue to drop deep.

Half time: Wales 1-0 Slovakia

All going according to plan for Wales, who lead by a Gareth Bale goal. Slovakia should have been ahead when Marek Hamsik beat Danny Ward but saw his effort cleared by Ben Davies off the line. Wales probably should have had a penalty when Williams was elbowed by Skrtel, but other than that Chris Coleman's side have barely threatened.

Slovakia have been good at the start and end of the half, with Wales committing so many bodies to keeping their lead in tact. They may need to repeat that as the game goes on.

Slovakia coming again as the first half draws to a close. It ends with Weiss having a cross blocked and it runs through to Ward. Wales had nearly every player behind the ball there, attempting to protect what they have.

Joe Allen feeds the ball to Ramsey, who looks up and plays a flighted pass across the penalty area which aimless and bounces out of play. The Arsenal man has really not got into this game, in a positive capacity.

Martin Skrtel is a very lucky boy. Trying to see a loose pass out of play, he attempts to hand-off Jonny Williams but instead elbows the Crystal Palace man, right in full view of the official by the touchline. No decision to made, which frankly is mad given the severity of the decision.

Interesting side issue, relays of all key incidents, including controversial ones are being shown on the big screens at all matches in this tournament so far. Nice touch, but it means the crowd have full view of errors by the officials.

Yellow card for Slovakia at the end of an encouraging period of attacking play. Patrik Hrošovský is adjudged to have taken down Aaron Ramsey near the edge of the Wales box, but I must admit it looks more like he got the ball, rather than the Arsenal man.

Nasty tackle from Neil Taylor on Marek Hamsik, who is left injury-stricken on the turf. He is up now but the Wales full-back was fortunate to escape without punishment.

Chance for Slovakia from a free-kick a good 35 yards from goal. Juraj Kucka takes aim but the ball balloons over the bar and fails to test Danny Ward, who makes his first Wales start this afternoon.

Aaron Ramsey strikes goalwards but Kozacik does a better job than he did for the goal, making a good low save. Wladimir Weiss has Slovakia's best effort since going behind, skying the ball well over the bar into the main block of Wales fans who are currently going mad. Loving this major tournament malarky.

Slovakia had started very well and it could have been all so different had Ben Davies not cleared from Hamsik's goalbound shot. The Welsh support is in great voice already.

Goal: Wales 1-0 Slovakia (Gareth Bale)

It had to be, didn't it? Jonathan Williams is brought down 30 yards from goal and Bale has the chance to unleash his first effort on goal. Bale hits it and as he goalkeeper Kozacik takes a step to his left, he is wrong-footed and the ball darts beyond him and into the net. Big celebrations on the Welsh bench and what a start for Chris Coleman's men.

Half a chance for Wales a Kozacik flaps at a cross - a theme of these opening games - but when the ball falls to Joe Allen he can't control it and it goes behind.

How have Slovakia not taken the lead? Marek Hamsik ghosts past three Wales players, into the box, beats Ward but Ben Davies somehow gets back and clears the ball off the line at the last. Real scare for Wales.

Under way in Bordeaux. Fifty-eight years of hurt are finally over for Wales.

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau roars around the Matmut Atlantique. Huge volume of Wales support in Bordeaux. We're just moments away from kick-off.

Teams on their way in Bordeaux. Wales and Slovakia's players out for the kick-off. Lots of red in immediate view as the anthems begin.

IBTimes UK will have accounts from supporters of each of the home nations and Republic of Ireland throughout Euro 2016. Our first piece comes from a Wales supporter, who has documented his trip to Bordeaux for this opening game.

Who is the key man for Slovakia today? It might be easy to look at Marek Hamsik, being the chief creative force, but don't forget defender Martin Skrtel. He has suffered a little at Liverpool of late but he is keen to a Slovakia side who are happy to sit in and defend.

Wales' players are out on the Bordeaux turf warming-up ahead of the game. Rio Ferdinand has spoken on BBC television about how he sensed a feeling of apprehension around the squad. let's hope Chris Coleman's men can operate with some freedom. There is no doubt Gareth Bale is used to stages such as these, and naturally he is key to their hopes.

Much has been made of Wales making their first major tournament appearance for a generation, but what of Slovakia. Major international events don't come every year for them either, and they play in the European Championships for the first time this afternoon. For all the information on Slovakia, head this way for our low down on their fortunes this summer.

So as expected, Wayne Hennessey misses out and is replaced by Danny Ward who makes his third international appearance. Joe Allen comes through a knee problem to play.

Slovakia meanwhile are unchanged from the warm-up draw against Northern Ireland, with Liverpool's Martin Skrtel and Napoli's Marek Hamsik both involved.

Teams:

Wales: Ward, Gunter, Williams, Chester, Davies, Taylor, Edwards, Allen, Ramsey, Williams, Bale

Slovakia: Kozacik; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Svento; Mak, Kucka, Hrosovsky, Hamsik, Weiss; Duris

Slight delay in the teams being confirmed in Bordeaux but we will have them for you as soon as they're confirmed.

Meanwhile, it may not have evaded your attention that there has been some trouble in Marseille ahead of England's opening game against Russia. Here is one of many videos of the violence which has taken place in the city, with kick-off still four hours away.

Full time in Lens where Switzerland have held on to beat 10-man Albania. Chances were spurned by both teams throughout the 90 minutes but it is the Swiss who prevail and register that first win.

We're expecting confirmation of both teams but there are rumours of a late injury scare for Wales, with Wayne Hennessey expected to miss out and Danny Ward - who has just two international caps to his name and spent last season on loan at Aberdeen from Liverpool - is set to deputise. That is a major blow for Chris Coleman's team.

The year of 1958 was a big one for popular culture. It was the year which saw the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna all born. On a vastly alternative note, it was the same year in which the plane containing travelling Manchester United players crash landed in Munich.

For Welsh sport, it was a momentous year, as they took their place in the World Cup in Sweden, during which they reached the quarter-final where they were ousted by Brazil. Few would have thought it would be over half a century until we saw Wales back on the major international stage again, but today that 58-year wait ends when Chris Coleman's men take on Slovakia in Bordeaux.

So our build-up to Wales vs Slovakia is under way, but if you want to keep abreast of events in Lens where Albania are taking on Switzerland then head this way to our live blog. IBTimes UK will have live coverage of all 51 matches during Euro 2016.

Euro 2016 is barely two days old and already the first of the three host nations take centre stage. Ahead of England and Northern Ireland starting their campaigns in the net 24 hours, Wales are the first side from the UK to take their bow in the competition. Chris Coleman's side are playing in their first European Championships, and appearing in a major tournament for the first time since 1958. Slovakia are also making their debut at the Euros, having only once qualified for a major tournament which ended with a last 16 exit at the 2010 World Cup. Teams news and all the build up ahead of the game on the way.

We will bring you the draw for all five regions, but let's focus on Europe, the home nations and the Republic of Ireland to begin with, shall we?

England and Wales are in pot one alongside Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Pot two features Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Iceland, Denmark and Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Scotland and Northern Ireland join Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Sweden, Albania, Serbia and Greece to make up pot three.

The Republic of Ireland are in pot four alongside Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Norway, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, Montenegro and Estonia.

Cyprus, Latvia, Armenia, Finland, Belarus, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania and Moldova make up pot five, meanwhile, with the final pot containing minnows Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Georgia, Malta, San Marino and Andorra.

As my esteemed colleague Tony Mogan notes:

From that, teams will be drawn into seven groups of six and two groups of five with each six-team group containing one team from each of the six pots and each five-team group containing one team from each of the first five pots.

England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Netherlands will be drawn into six-team groups due to television deals while Azerbaijan and Armenia will also be kept apart due to the ongoing political situation between the two nations.

After the final group games, which take place on 8 October 2017, the nine group winners will progress automatically while the eight best group runners up enter a playoff.

No, we're not sure we fully comprehend either.