The Three Lions dominated possession and territory in their final Group B game of Euro 2016, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third saw them finish second behind Wales, who beat Russia 3-0 in Toulouse.

Dele Alli reacts after missing a chance during the Euro 2016 Group B match between Slovakia and England on June 20, 2016 © Getty Images

The match was England's first at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard since their infamous 1998 World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina, but they set about dispelling those bad memories with a bright start to the contest.

Manager Roy Hodgson made six changes to his side from the win over Wales, and two of the new faces combined for the first chance of the game after just five minutes when Nathaniel Clyne beat his man down the right before firing in a cross that Jamie Vardy diverted past the near post.

Viktor Pecovsky responded with a long-range drive that flew well off target, but England were soon back on the attack and only a last-ditch block from Peter Pekarik denied Thursday's hero Daniel Sturridge the opening goal nine minutes in.

Shooting opportunities continued to arrive for the Three Lions, though, and Adam Lallana was the next to go for goal having been teed up by Vardy, but the Liverpool man dragged his effort wide.

The clearest chance of the opening 45 minutes arrived when Vardy outpaced Martin Skrtel to latch on to Jordan Henderson's pass over the top, but the striker was denied by Matus Kozacik with only the keeper to beat.

Jamie Vardy and Martin Skrtel in action during the Euro 2016 Group B match between Slovakia and England on June 20, 2016 © Getty Images

News of Wales moving into a 2-0 lead against Russia soon arrived and increased England's need for a goal, but Slovakia were able to frustrate Hodgson's side despite surrendering the vast majority of possession.

One avenue of success for England came down the right flank, though, with Clyne pulling a low ball into the box for club teammate Lallana shortly after the hour mark, only for the midfielder to fire his first-time effort straight at Kozacik.

There were no goals in the first half, though, and that profligacy almost came back to haunt England when Chris Smalling's attempted chest back sold Joe Hart short, but the keeper just did enough to deny a predatory Robert Mak.

Ryan Bertrand challenges Robert Mak during the Euro 2016 Group B match between Slovakia and England on June 20, 2016 © Getty Images

The match began to open up in the wake of that scare, and England responded immediately when Kozacik was forced into yet another save after Clyne had latched on to a Sturridge through-ball and tried to squeeze his shot in from a tight angle.

Slovakia made another foray forward shortly afterwards, and Hart once again needed to be alert to get down at his near post and deny Vladimir Weiss's deflected shot.

Hodgson turned to his bench to try to find the opener as both Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli came on, and the latter almost scored with his very first touch when he saw his effort cleared off the line by Skrtel having connected with Henderson's cross at the back post.

Still England probed for the opener, and they came close again when Eric Dier lifted a pass over the top of the defence that Sturridge just failed to connect with when well placed.

Jack Wilshere and Peter Pekarik compete for the ball during the Euro 2016 Group B match between Slovakia and England on June 20, 2016 © Getty Images

Rooney, whose substitute appearance saw him move level with Steven Gerrard in third on the all-time list of England appearances, was the next to add to the growing shot count when he manoeuvred room just outside the box, only to drag his effort wide.

Hamsik attempted to catch Hart off his line from near the halfway line late on, but it was one-way traffic in England's favour in the closing stages and Harry Kane, Hodgson's third substitute, had a couple of headed sights of goal which he could not properly connect with.

England were frustrated in the end, though, as they were forced to settle for a second-placed finish having ended the group stages with five points - one behind Wales, who join them in the last 16. The Three Lions will face the runners-up of Group F, which contains Hungary, Iceland, Portugal and Austria.

Slovakia, meanwhile, finish in third and are still in with a chance of reaching the knockout stages having avoided defeat against England for the first time in their history.