England players walking away dejectedly after losing 1-2 to Iceland and crashing out of the European Championships in the first knockout stage
England fans went from ecstasy to agony in Nice after taking the lead against Iceland – only to concede two goals in the next ten minutes against the country with a population of just 332,000.
Roy Hodgson stepped down as manager of the side following the game, stating he was ‘unable to deliver’.
Wayne Rooney gave the Three Lions the lead after just three minutes when Raheem Sterling won a penalty, but conceded almost straight away when Ragnar Sigurdsson poked home from short range.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson then scored to make it 2-1 to Iceland after placing a shot from the edge of the box, with England keeper Joe Hart unable to keep it out.
Supporters expressed their disappointment in the stands of the Stade de Nice and in the fanzones dotted around England and France, as the Three Lions desperately probed for an equaliser in their quest to make the next round of the Euros and a showdown with hosts France.
But it wasn’t to be for the boys in white, who were sent packing after playing just one knockout game, leaving Wales as the only British representative left at the competition.
England’s humbling Euro 2016 defeat to minnows Iceland was described by pundits as the most embarrassing for the national team in more than half a century.
And celebrity armchair supporters were not pulling any punches on social media.
Former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who enjoyed a decorated career, described it simply as: ‘The craziest thing I have seen in football.’
British middleweight champion boxer Chris Eubank Jnr said: ‘How have we just lost to Iceland? This is like when Mike Tyson lost to Buster Douglas… HOW!?’
Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess invoked shades of Oscar Wilde with his post: ‘To leave Europe once may be regarded as a misfortune. To leave twice in a week looks like carelessness.’
Left-wing singer-songwriter Billy Bragg was typically political in his response, days after Britain voted to leave the European Union: ‘How long before Labour MPs start briefing that (Jeremy) Corbyn didn’t do enough to support England against Iceland tonight?’
Northern Irish comedian and television presenter Patrick Kielty also referenced the Leave campaign’s de facto leader Boris Johnson with his tweet: ‘Boris – probably best if you secure those borders before this England team gets home.’
Comedian and writer Dom Joly joked: ‘Didn’t expect us to be out of Europe that quickly- Farage delighted.’
He added: ‘Does anybody else suddenly feel Welsh?’
Daily Mail of London
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