LILLE: Russia appear to be heading for another footballing humiliation at Euro 2016 – whatever may have continued to happen away from the stadia.

Having focused on defence to hold England 1-1 in Group B last weekend, they opened up in search of victory against Slovakia in Lille. Bad mistake. All Russia’s defensive weaknesses were exposed in the first half by lightning strikes from Vladimir Weiss and Marek Hamsik.

Russia pulled one goal back late through substitute Denis Glushakov but it was not enough to bring even the ghost of a smile to the face of coach Leonid Slutsky.

He recently published his autobiography. Sales will not be good with Russia bottom of the Group B table and facing the prospect of an early flight home – just as from the World Cup in Brazil two years ago.

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