Iceland’s midfielder Aron Gunnarsson and teammates celebrate after beating England. Reuters
Nice, June 28
England were dealt a humiliating 2-1 defeat by minnows Iceland as Roy Hodgson’s side crashed out of Euro 2016 in one of the most stunning upsets in the history of the game.
Ragnar Sigurdsson cancelled out Wayne Rooney’s fourth-minute opener before Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s tame shot squirmed past England goalkeeper Joe Hart for an 18th-minute winner. Three days on from Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, England followed the country’s lead by exiting Europe, their quest for a first title since the 1966 World Cup doomed to continue.
It ranked alongside their 1-0 loss to the part-timers of the United States at the 1950 World Cup and sent Iceland, appearing at their first major tournament, into a glamour quarterfinal with hosts France.
As expected, Hodgson made six changes to his starting XI at a muggy Stade de Nice, which included a recall for Raheem Sterling. The Manchester City forward made an excellent start, racing onto Daniel Sturridge’s fine pass and drawing a foul from Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson. Rooney planted the penalty into the bottom-left corner to crown his 115th England appearance — which tied David Beckham’s record for an outfield player — with a 53rd international goal.
Remarkably, his side’s lead was to last only 34 seconds. From the Iceland captain’s right-wing missile, Kari Arnason headed the ball on and Sigurdsson charged in behind a dozing Kyle Walker to volley home from close range.
It drew a roar from the blue-shirted Iceland fans, and they were screaming with disbelief in the 18th minute when their team struck again. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson worked the ball to Sigthorsson and with England’s defenders standing off, the Nantes striker rolled a shot goal-wards that Hart could only palm into his bottom-left corner.
Hodgson made two attacking changes — Jack Wilshere replacing Eric Dier at half-time, Jamie Vardy taking Sterling’s place on the hour — but despite their firepower, there was no craft whatsoever to England’s approach play. And then the final whistle brought England’s players to their knees and sent the Iceland bench tearing onto the pitch in celebration. — AFP
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