Iceland Defeat England 2-1 in the Last 16 to Send Them Packing Home

The Three Lions suffer an embarrassing exit from the Euros after Iceland defeat England 2-1, with Hodgson announcing his resignation right after the game.

(Image credit: The New Times)

Captain Wayne Rooney opened the scoring early in the game (4’) through a penalty, however his strike was cancelled out only 2 minutes later as Iceland’s Sigurdsson slotted a wonderful goal that proved unstoppable for England’s goalkeeper Joe Hart. The tournament underdogs found the back of the net yet another time by way of Sigthorsson in the 18th minute of the game. Hodgson’s men were unable to bounce back from this, and the match ended with 2-1 reading on the scoreline. This effectively saw England crash out of the Euros against an opponent that’s much smaller in every respect: players, manager, coaches and experience.

Merely 20 minutes after the shocking loss, Roy Hodgson announced his resignation as the head of England in front of the press. “We are out of the Euros so now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of a hungry and extremely talented group of players. They have done fantastically, and done everything asked of them,” said the 68-year-old. “When I arrived I was told that players would not turn up or pull out at the last minute but I haven’t seen any of that.”

(Video credit: The Guardian)

Hodgson also said that assistants Neville and Lewington will be leaving their posts and will follow him to the exit door after Iceland defeat England in the Round of 16. “Gary Neville and Ray Lewington have asked me to speak on their behalf. They arrived with me and will leave with me and I’d like to thank them for the major part they have played in team preparations.”

“Finally, I want to thank the support staff at the FA, and the fans. It’s been a fantastic journey the last four years, I will look back on it with pride. I want to thank the media for the support you’ve given me for in the last four years,” said Hodgson, before expressing his regret they couldn’t get further in the competition. “I’m sorry it’s ended in another exit but these things happen and I wish you the very best and I hope you can still see a England team in a final of a major tournament very soon, something that we have been unable to deliver.”

Iceland defeat England – new opening for Three Lions boss following Roy Hodgson’s resignation

Alan Shearer vying to become new England boss
(Image credit: Mirror)

Right after Hodgson announced his resignation from his managerial post, former England striker Alan Shearer voiced his desire to take over the team, should he be given the opportunity by the FA.

“I went to see the FA four or five years ago and I said, ‘I want it, I’ll have that job.’ They looked at me and said, ‘No, it’s a lack of experience.’ And I said, ‘You’ve hired experienced guys, you’ve paid them an absolute fortune, I could not have done any worse than those guys.’ I’d definitely speak to them, absolutely, I would offer my experience and tournament experience,” said Shearer, who has made 63 caps for the Three Lions between 1992 and 2000, and scored 30 goals in the process.

The 45-year-old’s only managerial experience to date came in 2009, when he took over the helms of his former side Newcastle United for brief spell that lasted a mere 8 games. Despite his lack of experience, Shearer remains adamant he can take on the responsibility of managing the national team, and points to the example of England’s Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate, who has done a decent job since taking over in 2013. “Even if Gareth Southgate got it, for him to take players in with experience who’ve been there and done it, then that has to be of benefit also,” said the former striker, who represented Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United during his playing career.

Online sportsbook Bet365 gives Southgate favourite status 2.37 (11/8) to succeed Roy Hodgson as the England boss, while Shearer is a heavy underdog with odds of 13.00 (12/1). It seems that his lack of managerial experience at the top level might prove to be deciding factor in the FA’s decision to choose someone else over him.

The other candidates to become the next manager of the Three Lions are: Glenn Hoddle 8.00 (7/1), Eddie Howe 11.00 (10/1), Harry Redknapp 13.00 (12/1), Alan Pardew 13.00 (12/1), Sam Allardyce 17.00 (16/1), Gary Neville 21.00 (20/1), Brendan Rodgers 21.00 (20/1) and others with much lower chances of getting selected.

(For more info about the online sportsbook, check out Betting Herald’s Bet365 Sports Review.)