| Venue: Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik Date: Saturday 5 September (17:00 BST) |
| Safety: Full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Reside, reside textual content material commentary and report on BBC Sport website online and app |
“I’m sorry it should end this vogue nevertheless these things happen.
“There is likely to be little doubt regarding the consequence. I contemplate now we have made good steps, nevertheless we have to confront giant alternatives, not duck them.
“I might need appreciated to stay on for a further two years. Nonetheless, I am pragmatic and I do know we’re inside the outcomes enterprise. It has been a unbelievable journey.
“The nation requires current administration. Although leaving Europe was not the path I actually helpful, I am the first to reward our unbelievable strengths.”
The ultimate week of June 2016 was not what you’d identify a quiet one on the knowledge entrance. A stormy week seen first the Prime Minister, David Cameron, step down after the UK voted to depart the European Union, after which Roy Hodgson, England supervisor, resign after a humiliating defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016.
Every males had pre-prepared resignation speeches, which now we have knitted collectively there. It feels a lifetime previously wouldn’t it?
Rather a lot has modified as England put collectively to face Iceland as quickly as as soon as extra this weekend – nevertheless what did go so drastically fallacious on that night in Good, and what occurred subsequent?
‘Collaborating in a Championship aspect’
England have been streaky inside the group nevertheless an injury-time Daniel Sturridge winner in opposition to Wales helped information the last-16 tie with minnows Iceland.
Backed in France by virtually 10% of the nation’s tiny inhabitants of 330,000 – the similar as Coventry, as now we have been instructed day-after-day all through the occasion – Iceland, with their thunder-clapping supporters, have been everyone’s second workforce.
A draw with eventual winners Portugal and a stoppage-time winner against Austria put Iceland through, nevertheless they started as giant underdogs in opposition to England, even when it had been 10 years given that Three Lions had obtained a knockout match at a critical occasion and solely obtained two of their earlier 13 knockout video video games in 90 minutes.
“Let’s be sensible, England are collaborating in a Championship aspect tonight,” Chris Waddle said over the radio as the perimeters emerged.
“I shall be very, very shocked if England don’t win this recreation 2-0, 3-1,” chimed in Danny Mills.
“Iceland have completed very correctly nevertheless they’ve a restricted pool of players to pick out from. If England don’t win this recreation then will in all probability be an infinite embarrassment.”
Pretty correct Danny…
The entire gear, no thought
Hodgson’s England aspect had dominated possession in all of their video video games in France, with out being medical.
And so when the recalled Raheem Sterling was fouled for a fourth-minute penalty which captain Wayne Rooney dispatched for his 53rd and shutting goal for his nation, the nation relaxed and began to dream of a quarter-final in opposition to hosts France.
Nobody had given Iceland that script though. Merely two minutes later, an infinite throw-in was launched, Kari Arnason nodded it on and Kyle Walker misplaced Ragnar Sigurdsson who tapped inside the equaliser.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson then hit a tame shot which England keeper Joe Hart did not keep out and Iceland have been on the verge of sporting nirvana.
The second half seen England muster merely two images heading in the right direction, barely testing goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson, who would have had additional testing days directing music films in his completely different life.
“I’m merely misplaced for phrases,” said Waddle on the closing whistle. “I do know England have had unhealthy outcomes, nevertheless that’s the worst consequence I’ve ever acknowledged.”
As England followers inside the stadium threw away shirts and flags of St George, Hodgson was already prepared for his farewell, saying his pre-written resignation merely 19 minutes after the full-time whistle.
Icelandic TV commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson went viral collectively together with his response, tying inside the shock with the aforementioned EU referendum consequence…
“Not at all wake me from this glorious dream!” he bellowed. “Reside one of the simplest ways you want England! Iceland goes to play France. France-Iceland! You presumably can go dwelling. You presumably can exit of Europe.
“You presumably can go wherever the hell you want. The fairytale continues.”
‘They’re all merely headphones’
The BBC Sport pundits and former players did not miss out on a chance to weigh in on a extremely abysmal night for England’s footballers. It is a type:
Former England captain Alan Shearer: “That was the worst effectivity I’ve ever seen from an England workforce. Ever. It was tactically inept.
“We’ve got been out-fought, out-thought, out-battled and utterly hopeless for 90 minutes.
“Our players caved tonight. We’ve got all carried out beneath stress, they caved and the supervisor caved. He gave Manchester United’s teenage striker Marcus Rashford four minutes and he nonetheless did larger than anyone else.
“We’re blinded by the Premier League. We count on it’s the easiest on the earth for experience. It is not. We’re utterly reliant on abroad players and managers for pleasure. We’re inferior to we count on we’re.”
Former England winger Chris Waddle on BBC Radio 5 Reside: “They’ve not turned up. They go 1-Zero up, nevertheless then concede a Sunday morning goal.
“We have not obtained leaders, they’re all pampered, they’re all merely headphones and you will’t get one thing out of them.
“I’d in no way pay to watch Iceland, nevertheless they’ve good camaraderie. England will now say ‘we’re setting up a workforce for Qatar’, then we’ll be setting up a workforce for Timbuktu.”
What occurred subsequent?
France confirmed what a excessive tier aspect should have completed in opposition to Iceland – no offence meant – by pumping them 5-2 in Paris.
Hodgson, actually, wound up at Crystal Palace after a yr away from the glare and has continued his largely efficient work at membership diploma.
For the 11 England players who started on that night in Good, the humiliation was not as terminal as you could possibly assume. All of them would go on to play for England as soon as extra, with Hart selecting up one different 11 appearances in goal sooner than being ousted.
Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Sterling and Kane are inside the squad to face Iceland as soon as extra this weekend.
Submit-match, put up Hodgson, the BBC pundits have been unanimous in stating that England ought to go “for a youthful, dynamic supervisor who’s conscious of the youthful players coming through.”
The Soccer Affiliation took discover and moved for Gareth Southgate, and the remaining was World Cup semi-final historic previous.
Solely joking! They moved for Large Sam didn’t they? That went well.
