England manager, Roy Hodgson, has quit his job after an embarrassing UEFA Euro 2016 defeat at the hands of Iceland.
“I’m extremely disappointed, of course, about tonight’s result and ultimately our exit from the competition,” Hodgson said.
“We haven’t progressed as far as I thought we were capable of, and that’s obviously not acceptable. I am actually proud of the work that my coaching staff and I have achieved in our time at the helm with England.
“The transition from a squad whose average was 30 to now being the youngest in the tournament is both remarkable and exciting for the future of English football.
“I would have loved to stay on for another two years, however I am pragmatic and know that we are in the results business. My contract was always up after the Euros, so now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of this young, hungry and talented group of players.
“They’ve been fantastic and done everything asked of them. When I arrived I was told that players didn’t turn up to play for their country or would pull out at the last minute. But I have not seen any of that. Their commitment has been unquestionable.”
The 68-year-old won just three of 11 games in major tournament finals, despite good qualifying records.
England seemed to be set for a barnstorming encounter on Monday evening when captain Wayne Rooney struck home a clinical penalty in the fourth minute of the game, after Raheem Sterling was fouled in the box by the Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson.
But Iceland struck back within two minutes, Ragnar Sigurdsson smashing home from close range after he had been put through on goal by a header from a throw-in — the kind of move that was pinpointed as their strength, in the buildup to the game.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson made sure of the points for the underdogs in the 19th minute, firing home tamely but accurately from the edge of the box to evade the outstretched fingers of Joe Hart.
England threw everything at the opposition in the second half, including teenage sensation Marcus Rashford and leicester City hero jamie Vardy, but it proved too little too late.
