Russia defender Vasili Berezutski (L) scores the equalizer against England. (Photo : Getty Images)
World no. 29 Russia (0-0-1, 1 point) and world no. 24 Slovakia (0-1-0, 0 points) are set to clash in a 2016 UEFA European Championship Group B encounter at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq on Wednesday, June 15.
The two teams are hoping to score their first wins of the tournament as they emerged from the opening round both falling short against their respective opponents.
Russia was able to hold tournament-favorite England to a 1-1 draw in their opener last Saturday at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, as per SkySports.
Head coach Leonid Slutsky's side stayed at par with the star-studded Three Lions squad for most of the match as the first half ended in a goalless tie despite the latter's evident stronger starting unit composed of Premier League stars Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Adam Lallana.
The game's first goal came from an unlikely English source as Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier upstaged his more illustrious teammates to find the back of Igor Akinfeev's net at the 73rd minute.
England looked headed to the expected win as the full time whistle blew, but Russian captain Vasili Berezutski scored a goal in injury time to salvage a draw and the share of a point in the group standings.
Meanwhile, Slovakia dropped a 1-2 decision to a Gareth Bale-led Wales eleven at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux also last Saturday in their own tourney-opener, ESPN reported.
The Real Madrid forward netted the opening goal of the match at the 10th minute to give his side the early lead. Both teams had a hard time executing their offensive plays from there as the first 45 minutes ended with the Dragons still holding on to the one-point advantage.
Repre managed to knot the count one minute after the hour mark with a goal from substitute winger Ondrej Duda, who just came in the contest a minute prior.
Head coach Jan Kozak's boys tried to hold on to the draw, but Wales scored the winning goal at the 81st minute via a shot from forward Hal Robson-Kanu from an assist by Aaron Ramsey.
Slovakia is a tactically versatile squad and has Napoli's Marek Hamsik at the midfield, but Russia is the more persistent team and they showed it during the match with powerhouse England.
The predicted result is a close 2-1 win for Russia.
Russia starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Akinfeev; Smolnikov, Berezutski, Ignashevich, Schennikov; Neustadter, Golovin; Kokorin, Shatov, Smolov; Dzyuba
Slovakia starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Kozacik; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Svento; Kucka, Hrosovsky; Mak, Hamsik, Weiss; Duris
