Last Thursday, the United Kingdom made a historic approach that made them leave the European Union and it seems the English football team also got the memo.
In a night many are describing as the darkest day in football for England, Iceland proved victorious over England defeating them 2-1 with goals thanks to Ragnar Sigurdson and Kolbeinn Sightorrson.
Iceland had to claw their way back to the lead after England skipper Wayne Rooney scored from the penalty spot early on.
As much is the case for the England team, they never really seem to do well in major tournaments. It seems that England is a good qualifying team but an average tournament side, which in some cases is surprising considering the players they have in the squad.
Two years ago England left the World Cup in Brazil from the group stages in what was then a disaster, but ultimately the match against Iceland takes the cake.
As far as England’s campaign in this year Euros is concerned, there has been nothing positive about it.
Before the hype of the clash against Iceland, it was primarily negative.
The English press were in some cases worried about this clash and fearing the worst – coincidently the worst did occur.
This was Roy Hodgson’s last involvement as England’s manager and left on a sour note. His time as England manager were numbered as the days went on.
He resigned after the match.
Hodgson and England throughout this tournament never really took the world by storm nor took the imagination of the fans. Hodgson never really looked in control either. He made six unforced changes against Slovakia with the omission of the skipper, and in the Wales game he brought on Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy at half time, 45 minutes too late.
The first group game England played was against Russia. England should have won that 4-0 dominating play and shots on goal but in the end they drew 1-1.
All this could have been avoided if Hodgson knew his best XI in which he had plenty of time to do so and this goes with the tactics as well.
Hodgson lacked ideas in this tournament and everyone could see it, a lack of imagination in the attacking third and the defending in which he addressed before the tournament was no way as near as outstanding, that showed too.
Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and more importantly Joe Hart were clearly not up to their best in this year’s tournament.
Kane, in particular, was disappointing after coming off an impressive Premier League campaign, which saw him, become the Premier League’s top goal scorer.
The same can be said for Joe Hart who ultimately made two mistakes that have cost England (although there is an exception about Gareth Bale’s free kick, in which England won the match).
Against Iceland, it was the same tale, mistakes and cost England. In what was a routine save by many goalkeepers, Hart should have saved the ball but ultimately just stood his ground. He dived to try and put a hand to it, in which the ball went under his arm. In order to save the ball, however, he needed to move his feet – which he did not.
Raheem Sterling has in all fairness had an unsettled approach in this year’s Euros. Being in the squad one day, out of it the next and then back in it. This can cause uncertainty in a player’s mind on how he approaches each game and a lack of confidence.
He showed in some cases of what he can do as a player but ultimately he did not capitalise on it throughout the tournament.
Hodgson is to blame. He came under most scrutiny when they played Slovakia where it finished as a 0-0 draw. While the FA were not happy with performance nor the result, they were certainly not happy about the fact that there were six unforced changes.
England football desperately needs a messiah, just like what Eddie Jones has achieved with the rugby union team.
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