2nd Brexit: Iceland knocks England out of Euro 2016

England has made a second Brexit, this time from Euro 2016, convincingly beaten 2-1 by "minnows" Iceland.

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Football: Iceland stun England in one of greatest ever shocks

minnow: a very small freshwater fish (Oxford Learner's Dictionary)

Nice, France, AFP – England were dealt a humiliating 2-1 defeat by minnows Iceland on Monday as Roy Hodgson's side crashed out of Euro 2016 in one of the most stunning upsets in the history of the game – against a team from a country with a population of just 330,000 and with no previous tournament experience

Ragnar Sigurdsson cancelled out Wayne Rooney's fourth-minute opener before Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's tame shot squirmed past England goalkeeper Joe Hart for an 18th-minute winner.

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's defender Gary Cahill, England's goalkeeper Joe Hart and England's midfielder Dele Alli react after the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between England and Iceland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 27, 2016. Iceland won the match 1-2. / AFP PHOTO / Valery HACHE

It ranked alongside their 1-0 loss to the part-timers of the United States at the 1950 World Cup and sent Iceland, appearing at their first major tournament, into a glamour quarter-final with hosts France.

England manager Roy Hodgson immediately resigned. His contract was due to expire after the tournament and following the match in Nice, he read a pre-prepared statement at his post-game press conference in which he said that he would not be seeking to continue.

England's forward Wayne Rooney shakes hands with England's coach Roy Hodgson as he is substituted with England's forward Marcus Rashford during Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between England and Iceland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 27, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / TOBIAS SCHWARZ

"I would have loved to stay on for another two years. However, I am pragmatic and I know we are in the results business," said the 68-year-old, who succeeded Fabio Capello as manager in 2012.

As expected, Hodgson made six changes to his starting XI at a muggy Stade de Nice, which included a recall for Raheem Sterling.

The Manchester City forward was criticised for some insipid group-stage displays, but he made an excellent start, racing onto Daniel Sturridge's fine pass and drawing a foul from Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.

Rooney planted the penalty into the bottom-left corner to crown his 115th England appearance – which tied David Beckham's record for an outfield player – with a 53rd international goal.

Remarkably, his side's lead was to last only 34 seconds.

Iceland supporters celebrate their team's win after the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between England and Iceland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 27, 2016. Iceland won the match 1-2. / AFP PHOTO / BERTRAND LANGLOIS

Hodgson had warned of the dangers of Aron Gunnarsson's long throw-ins prior to the game, but from the Iceland captain's right-wing missile, Kari Arnason headed the ball on and Sigurdsson charged in behind a dosing Kyle Walker to volley home from close range.

It drew a roar from the blue-shirted fans in the Iceland end and after Dele Alli and Harry Kane had fired narrowly over for England, they were screaming with disbelief in the 18th minute.

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson worked the ball to Sigthorsson and with England's defenders standing off, the Nantes striker rolled a shot goal-wards that Hart could only palm into his bottom-left corner.

Having also allowed a Gareth Bale free-kick to squirm past him in the 2-1 win over Wales, it was the City goalkeeper's second major blunder of the tournament.

Not surprisingly,the British press slammed the England football team as clueless, shambolic and embarrassing.

The Guardian had words of praise for their conquerors, however. "What heroes Iceland were: brave, organised, superb. They have established themselves as the greatest story of Euro 2016 and it feels almost like a trick of the imagination that it is only four years since they were ranked 133rd in the world.

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