Dreadful England humiliated by Iceland

England made the perfect start as they were awarded a penalty after just four minutes. Sterling raced in behind the defence to latch onto a high ball, but Haldorsson was off his line to meet him, bundling over the Manchester City man to concede a penalty. From the spot-kick, Rooney made no mistake to send England to a dream start.

The dream start only lasted ninety seconds as Sigurðsson scored an equaliser. From a long throw, Arnasson flicked the ball on, and the centre-half fired behind Hart from close range to level the score.

Roy Hodgon’s side were close to regain the lead when from a corner, Iceland only managed to dispose of the ball as far as Alli just outside the area, and the Spurs man lashed a half-volley that whistled over the crossbar. 

The English kept on dominating, and after eighteen minutes, Kane hit the ball from distance, but failed to test the Iceland goalkeeper.

Despite England’s dominion, Iceland scored their second goal. Sigthorsson tried his luck with a low shot that Hart got a good touch on, but it still squirmed through to make it 2-1.

The three lions were close to score an equaliser on the 28th minute. Sturridge found Kane lurking at the back post, and Kane’s first time volley was tipped over by Halldorsson.

England kept on controlling possession, but failed to create chances on goal to end the first half with a goal disadvantage.

Iceland had the first chance of the second half when on the 55th minute, Hart had to pull off a decent save. Sigurdsson tried an overhead kick as the ball dropped to him in the area, but his effort was straight at the English goalkeeper.

Alli lost another chance for the three lions seven minutes later. Sturridge cut in from the right and crossed the ball towards Alli. The Tottenham player took it on the half volley, but the ball came off his shin and flew over the bar.

On the 73rd minute, Iceland were close to double their advantage. The Iceland players went down the left, before switching play to the right for Gusmundsson who went forward and fired a shot towards the near corner that went just over the bar.

Hart saved England again ten minutes later when Gunnarsson was sent away on the counter and dribbled past Wilshere to open up  space for a shot, but the Manchester city goalkeeper managed to tip the ball over to save his nation from certain elimination.

Iceland managed to hold against England’s heavy pressure in the dying minutes of the match to go through to the quarter-finals in what can be considered as a historical result in the history of European championships.

England starting line-up (4-3-3): Hart; Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Rose; Alli, Dier, Rooney; Sturridge, Kane, Sterling. 

Iceland starting line-up (4-4-2): Halldorsson; Saevarsson, Arnason, R. Sigurdsson, Skulason; Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson, G. Sigurdsson, Bjarnason; Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson. 

Yellow cards

Sigurdsson (Iceland), Sturridge (England), Gunarsson (Iceland).

Referee

Damir Skomina (Slovenia)