WAYNE ROONEY gave the ultimate captain’s performance — then claimed England’s entire starting XI could be comfortably replaced.
The Manchester United star’s experience was vital as the Three Lions came from behind to beat Wales with a 92nd-minute winner.
Deadly subs Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge got the goals to put their side top of Group B, while teen terror Marcus Rashford also impressed off the bench.
Rooney said: “We know as a group of players there is not just an 11-man team, we have 23 players in our squad who are all capable.
“We are all confident and trust each other.
“Whoever plays will do a good job and we have shown what a good squad we have.
“We have exciting players who played some great stuff and it is just a great feeling to win the way we did.”
Gareth Bale’s free-kick gave the Welsh a half-time lead.
But Vardy and Sturridge came on for Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling at the break and changed the game.
Now England face Slovakia in Saint-Etienne on Monday, knowing a draw will ensure they reach the last 16.
Rooney, 30, added: “That has almost qualified us now with one game to go and we will have to finish the job off on Monday.
“At half-time, we had to believe we could win the game — we kept going. It was a great victory and a thoroughly deserved one.
“We were unfortunate to go in one-down and the manager made some positive changes and it has paid off for us.
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“I thought we were fantastic second half. We moved the ball, made Wales work hard, kept the ball, kept probing and got the winner in the end. We showed a lot of character and everyone in the dressing room will be delighted.”
United buddy Rashford replaced Adam Lallana and became England’s youngest player at the Euros at 18 years and 228 days — four days younger than Roo was when he featured at Euro 2004.
Rooney added: “I’m sure Marcus is delighted and I’m very pleased for him.
“It was only 112 days ago he made his debut for Manchester United and he is now playing on the biggest stage for England. It is a great story and we are all pleased for him.”
Vardy had a hand in both goals — scoring the opener and playing a part in Sturridge’s dramatic late winner.
The pair will now surely start on Monday.
Leicester hitman Vardy said: “Everyone wants to be a part of the starting line-up but it’s a team game, there are 23 of us and we are all in this together.
“To come off the bench you want to try to make an impact and it paid off today.
“We thought we were playing well so the message was simple, to carry on doing what we were doing and hopefully goals would come.”
Boss Roy Hodgson said: “It’s amazing, isn’t it, that we played so well against Russia and lost a goal in the 93rd minute. And today we worked so hard in the second half and it takes until the 92nd minute for us to get our goal.
“So it does go to show, I suppose, that things do even out — but it is very rare for things to even out in the space of two games.
“If I had been watching from afar and was seeing Wales play some other opponent, I would feel very sorry for them.
“But you will have to excuse me for obviously not feeling sorry for them because I am pleased for ourselves.
“I thought in the second half it was a very dominant performance.
“We were aggressive in our attacking play and I thought we were very bold.
“It took a lot of good defending from the Wales back five to keep us out but we got the two goals, so we go home happy.
“Chris won’t be too disappointed with his team’s performance and will be looking forward, I’m sure, to the knockout rounds.”
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