Another big chance for England! Raheem Sterling gets down the left and crosses to the unmarked Dele Alli but his glancing header goes across goal, past the diving Harry Kane, and wide. No goal but another promising opening. I'm liking the fact Alli is finding space in dangerous areas. Bodes well.

Image source, Rex Features

Chris Waddle
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

The Russian right-back Igor Smolnikov loves to get forward, Raheem Sterling has to go with him, he's got no option. 

That was a good hit from Adam Lallana, and, overall, a good start to the game. But I don't understand why Harry Kane is taking corners. 

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Surely... No! A great move that begins with Wayne Rooney ends with Adam Lallana finding space in the box to sting the palms of Igor Akinfeev. To be honest, he should have done better. He should have scored.

Harry Kane is on corner duty again (hmmm). His first delivery comes to nothing.

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Whoa, steady on Joe. The England keeper looks to kick out quickly and slams it against Danny Rose. Thankfully, there are no Russian attackers near to capitalise.

Russia do come forward soon after, though, and it needs some resilient defending to deny them a pop at goal.

Chris Waddle
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Promising start by England, they are on the front foot.

Chance! The ball is flicked in to Adam Lallana to nod down for Dele Alli, who fires over from the edge of the box. Good intent from the Spurs man - that is where he is most effective, joining the attack, finding space to hurt teams.

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How about that for a throw? Joe Hart pings it from his box to halfway and finds the chest of Danny Rose. It doesn't go anywhere but it is a sign of a confident man.

Early sniff for Raheem Sterling from a long ball over the top of the Russia defence. Igor Akinfeev comes out of his box to head the ball away.

Away we go. England's Euro 2016 campaign is under way. So much hope. So much expectation. Keep the faith, people. I sense we are in for another rocky ride.

England manager Roy Hodgson on ITV: "The thinking behind playing Wayne Rooney in midfield is that with his passing ability and experience we want to exploit spaces in wide places as much as we can. 

"Wayne, with his experience, will be able to take up good position on the left side of midfield and get the ball moving in there. 

"Our technical ability is good, we have pace in the team, our players can manipulate the ball and keep the ball.  But the quality of the team has to be shown on the field we can't keep talking and discussing it.

"We have a good run of victories behind us, not many defeats, and I have no reason to think that will end now just because it is a tournament game."

If you needed further confirmation that England fans are dominating the stands, the near stadium-wide rendition of God Save the Queen has just given it.

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Not a lot of respect for the Russian national anthem. Plenty of whistling and boos. It's like when Ivan Drago fought Apollo Creed.

England start their Euro 2016 campaign against Russia tonight and manager Roy Hodgson is hoping his players don't freeze.

"My fear as a coach would be that the players take anxiety on to the field, that they're weighed down when they go out and play and don't play as well as they like, imagining the headlines," he said.

"We try to encourage them to believe in themselves, go out and play the football we've been trying to play, and we'll see what it brings.

"We hope it brings some good moments and the people back home like what they see."

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Waddle
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Harry Kane will score goals because he is not frightened of shooting, he has a great partnership with Dele Alli but Alli has to get close to him. 

Image source, Getty Images

Russia have built up a bit of Euro form of their own since Leonid Slutski took over from Fabio Capello midway through the qualifying campaign. Following Slutski's appointment, Russia won all four of their remaining games, qualifying for France as Group G runners-up.   

He does not look like a man with whom it is wise to mess.

It is an impressive venue, the Stade Velodrome. With its curved stands and overhanging roof it fashions quite the atmosphere. Especially when it is brim full of almost 70,000 expectant fans. The teams are in tunnel. Expect lots of noise, very soon.

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You may not realise it, but England are actually unbeaten over 90 or 120 minutes in 22 European Championship fixtures. Their last defeat in the competition? The infamous 3-2 defeat by Croatia in November 2007, when Steve McClaren sought shelter under that huge umbrella from the literal storm above him and the metaphorical one heading his way.

Of course, England were beaten on penalties by Italy in the last Euros. But we don't talk about that.

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Eight years after their last Euros appearance, England returned under the management of Roy Hodgson and once again faced France in the opening game in Donetsk.

With Wayne Rooney suspended, this was a less adventurous England, although they made a bright start and led through Joleon Lescott's header. France fought back, though, with Samir Nasri equalising to earn them a point.

A see-saw victory over Sweden and narrow win over joint hosts Ukraine saw England through as group winners but penalties would once again prove their nemesis following a backs-to-the-wall 0-0 quarter-final draw with Italy.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stade Velodrome, Marseille

England captain Wayne Rooney will be playing in a deeper role against Russia tonight - and he certainly got his eye in during the warm-up with a couple of curling crackers into the top corner.

Roy Hodgson will be hoping he's kept a couple back for the real thing.