Skip to main content

Small Iceland dump England out of Euro 2016

England players walking away dejectedly after losing 1-2 to Iceland and crashing out of the European Championships in the first knockout stage

England players walking away dejectedly after losing 1-2 to Iceland and crashing out of the European Championships in the first knockout stage

England have crashed out of the Euros following a shock defeat to footballing minnows Iceland, who beat the Three Lions 2-1 in the final round of 16 game of the Championships.

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

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more