England have been made to regret missed opportunities after being held to a 1-1 draw by Russia in their opening match of Euro 2016 in Marseille on Saturday night.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier netted a 73rd-minute free kick to deservedly send the Three Lions one goal ahead in the Group B clash, but experienced defender Vasili Berezutski scored a header two minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a point for Russia.

Eric Dier celebrates scoring during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Russia on June 11, 2016 © Getty Images

The first half-chance of the match fell to England inside four minutes, but Dele Alli could not find the target with a half-volley from just outside the Russian penalty box.

Artyom Dzyuba's physical threat proved a problem for England in the early stages, but it was Roy Hodgson's side that had the first shot on target - Adam Lallana stinging the palms of Igor Akinfeev with seven minutes on the clock.

Less than two minutes later, Alli again came close for England after meeting a cross from Raheem Sterling, but the youngster's header was always moving wide and it just would not fall for Harry Kane at the far post.

Russia continued to drop deeper and deeper as the pressure grew and Smalling headed straight at Akinfeev in the 12th minute, before Kane swept one over the crossbar after a pass from skipper Wayne Rooney.

Russia's first sight of goal came in the 17th minute when Sergei Ignashevich met a free kick from the right, but the centre-back's header was always straight into the arms of the waiting Hart, who had a very comfortable first period.

Raheem Sterling and Igor Smolnikov during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Russia on June 11, 2016 © AFP

The best chance of the opening 22 minutes fell to Lallana after excellent work from Alli and Kyle Walker down the right, but the Liverpool midfielder could only place his effort wide of the post. Moments later, Sterling broke through on the Russia goal, only to be thwarted by a challenge from full-back Igor Smolnikov.

England did have the ball in the back of the net in the 28th minute, but Kane was in an offside position when he collected a short pass from Lallana and eventually finished past Akinfeev.

Alli then presented Rooney with a shooting chance 10 minutes before the break, but the skipper's effort was straight at Akinfeev, who had a busy first period in Marseille.

England remained comfortably the dominant force as the first period drew to a close, but smart goalkeeping from Akinfeev continued to keep the Three Lions at bay as the pair entered the interval at 0-0.

England needed Gary Cahill to be at his defensive best early in the second period to prevent the dangerous Dzyuba from meeting a low cross from the left as Russia started to make ground in the final third.

Standing over a 25-yard free kick, Rooney had the chance to test Russia's goalkeeper in the 55th minute as England recovered from a slow start to the half, but the 30-year-old's effort was just the wrong side of the crossbar.

Down the other end, Hart was forced to palm a Dier header over his own crossbar, before Aleksandr Golovin struck wide from distance in what was a finely-balanced period of the match.

Russia again came close through Fyodor Smolov in the 63rd minute as the number 10 just missed the post with a long-range effort, before England enjoyed another strong spell in the final third of the field.

Adam Lallana and Oleg Shatov in action during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Russia on June 11, 2016 © AFP

Rooney had an outstanding chance to send England ahead 20 minutes from time when he met a Rose cross inside the Russia box, but Akinfeev somehow tipped the Manchester United captain's effort onto the crossbar.

England were ahead in the 73rd minute, however, when Dier found the top corner with a free kick after Alli had been fouled in a dangerous position just outside the Russian box.

Both managers made changes in the minutes that followed as the Group B clash entered its final 10 minutes, but England remained in control against a Russia side that looked short of inspiration in the final third.

There was to be one final piece of drama, however, as Russia levelled in the second minute of stoppage time courtesy of a header from Berezutski, who had risen above Danny Rose at the far post. Fellow centre-back Ignashevich touched home on the line, but the goal went to the 33-year-old.

Next up for England is a clash with group leaders Wales on Thursday afternoon in Lens, while Russia will take on Slovakia one day earlier.