When England was humiliated by Iceland at Euro 2016

Event venue: Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik Date: Saturday 5th September (17:00 BST)
Coverage: Full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, live text commentary and reports on the BBC Sport website and app

“I’m sorry it has to end this way, but these things happen.

“I would have loved to stay another two years. However, I am a pragmatist and I know that we are in the business of results. It has been a fantastic journey.

“The country requires renewed leadership. Although leaving Europe was not the path I recommended, I am the first to praise our incredible strengths.”

The last week of June 2016 was not what you would call a quiet one on the news front. A stormy week saw Prime Minister David Cameron first reduce after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, and then Roy Hodgson, England’s manager, resigned after a Iceland’s humiliating defeat at Euro 2016.

Both men had prepared resignation speeches, which we have woven together there. It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?

Much has changed as England prepare to face Iceland once more this weekend, but what went so drastically wrong that night in Nice, and what happened next?

‘Playing one side of the championship’

England had streaks in the group, but a Daniel Sturridge win in added time against Wales helped book the round of 16 tie with the Icelandic minnows.

Backed in France by almost 10% of the country’s small population of 330,000, the same as Coventry, as we were told daily during the tournament, Iceland, with his thunderous followers, they were the second team of all.

A draw with eventual winners Portugal and a injury time winner against Austria they went on to Iceland but started out as big losers against England, even if it had been 10 years since the Three Lions had won a knockout match in a major tournament and only won two of their last 13 knockout games in 90 minutes.

“Let’s face it, England will play a championship team tonight,” Chris Waddle said on the radio when the teams emerged.

“I will be very, very surprised if England don’t win this game 2-0, 3-1,” interjected Danny Mills.

“Iceland have done very well, but they have a limited pool of players to choose from. If England don’t win this match, it will be a great shame.”

Alright Danny …

The whole team, no idea

Hodgson’s England team had dominated possession in all their games in France, without being clinical.

And so, when the remembered Raheem Sterling was fouled for a penalty in the fourth minute that captain Wayne Rooney dispatched for his 53rd and final goal for his country, the nation relaxed and began dreaming of the quarter-finals against host France. .

However, no one had ever given Iceland that script. Just two minutes later, a great throw-in was launched, Kari Arnason nodded and Kyle Walker lost to Ragnar Sigurdsson, who scored the equalizer.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson then launched a soft shot that England goalkeeper Joe Hart could not avoid and Iceland was on the brink of sports nirvana.

In the second half, England made just two shots on goal, barely testing goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson, who would have had more trial days directing music videos in his other life.

“I have no words,” Waddle said on the final whistle. “I know England have had poor results, but this is the worst result I have ever seen.”

As England fans in the stadium threw St George jerseys and flags, Hodgson was already prepared for his farewell, announcing his pre-written resignation just 19 minutes after the full-time whistle.

Icelandic television commentator Gudmundur Benediktsson went viral with his reaction, linking the shock to the aforementioned EU referendum result …

“Never wake me up from this incredible dream!” scream. “Live as you want England! Iceland is going to play France. France-Iceland! You can go home. You can leave Europe.

“You can go wherever you want. The fairy tale continues.”

‘They’re all just headphones’

The experts and ex-players of BBC Sport did not miss the opportunity to comment on a truly abysmal night for England footballers. Here’s a sample:

Former England Captain Alan Shearer: “That was the worst performance I’ve ever seen from an England team. Never. It was tactically inept.

“We were outmatched, thought out, outgunned, and totally desperate for 90 minutes.

“Our players gave in tonight. We all played under pressure, they gave in and the manager gave in. He gave Manchester United teenager forward Marcus Rashford four minutes and still did more than anyone.”

“We are blinded by the Premier League. We think it is the best in the world in terms of talent. It is not. We totally depend on foreign players and coaches for excitement. We are not as good as we think we are.”

Former England winger Chris Waddle on BBC Radio 5 Live: “They haven’t shown up. They go up 1-0, but then they concede a goal on Sunday morning.

“We don’t have leaders, they are all spoiled, they are all just headphones and you can’t get anything out of them.

“I would never pay to see Iceland, but they have great camaraderie. England will now say ‘we are building a team for Qatar’, then we will build a team for Timbuktu.”

What happened after?

France showed what a top team should have done against Iceland, with no intention of offending, by pumping them 5-2 in Paris.

Hodgson, of course, ended up at Crystal Palace after a year away from the blaze and has continued his excellent work at the club level.

For the 11 England players who started that night in Nice, the humiliation was not as terminal as it sounds. They would all play for England again, and Hart made 11 other appearances in goal before being sent off.

Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Sterling and Kane are on the call to face Iceland again this weekend.

After the game, after Hodgson, BBC experts were unanimous in stating that England should go “for a young and dynamic coach who knows the young players who are coming”.

The Football Association took notice and moved on for Gareth Southgate, and the rest was World Cup semi-final history.

Just kidding! They moved in for Big Sam, right? That went well.