Panicked England lose to the ice men
ICELAND pulled off one of the greatest shocks in European Championship history when they recovered to beat England 2-1 in their last-16 clash in Nice last night and will now face hosts France in the quarterfinals.
Three days on from Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, England followed the country’s lead by exiting Europe, their quest for a first title since the 1966 World Cup doomed to continue.
England got off to a dream start when Raheem Sterling was brought down by goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and Wayne Rooney confidently thumped home the penalty in the fourth minute.
Ragnar Sigurdsson equalised within two minutes for Iceland, turning the ball in at the far post after Aron Gunnarson’s massive throw-in was headed into his path by Kari Arnason.
Iceland then went ahead in the 18th minute when an intricate exchange of passes on the edge of the area ended with Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scoring with a low shot that goalkeeper Joe Hart got a hand to but could not stop from rolling into the net.
Shell-shocked England never recovered and slumped to one of the most embarrassing defeats in their soccer history.
Earlier, Italy broke a 22-year hoodoo to end Spain’s bid for a record third successive European title with a deserved 2-0 win over familiar foes in an absorbing last 16 clash between the two heavyweights at Euro 2016.
Italy triumphed with goals from Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle and will face Germany in the quarterfinals.
The Italians, who had not won a competitive match against Spain since the 1994 World Cup and were humiliated 4-0 by their rivals in the Euro 2012 final, were the better side, especially in the first half. Italy, who were better organised and more aggressive before the break, wasted several chances before defender Chiellini put them ahead after 33 minutes, following up to tap in after goalkeeper David de Gea failed to block Eder’s free kick.
The Italians suffered in the second half and had been resisting sustained Spanish pressure when striker Pelle connected with a Matteo Darmian cross to volley home from close up, doubling their advantage in added time.
Spain’s defeat marked the end of an era for a side who had established themselves as the dominant force in Europe by winning the European Championship in 2008, after knocking out Italy in the quarterfinals, and repeated the success in 2012.
The Spaniards, who struggled to impose their trademark, quick passing game on a slippery pitch, had already suggested they were on the way out when they lost their world crown with a shock group-stage exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Italy, who had won one of their past 11 games against Spain and whose ageing side had been written off by many in the build-up to the tournament, face Germany on Saturday in Bordeaux in another battle of the heavyweights for place in the semifinals.
Chiellini’s goal was the first conceded by Spain in the knockout stages of a European championship or a World Cup since a 3-1 defeat by France in the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup.