Wonderful World Cup, tipped for Euro glory – England have been transformed since shock defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016
England get their Nations League campaign under way on Saturday, and it could trigger some horrific memories for the Three Lions faithful.
That’s because they’re up against Iceland, who served them an awful humiliation last time they played each other by knocking England out of Euro 2016.
England’s defeat to Iceland is one of the darkest days in the national side’s history
It wasn’t a great tournament for England before that fateful night in Nice but it became arguably the lowest moment in the national side’s history as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
The defeat sparked an almighty rant from Mark Saggers, something that’s still talked about in talkSPORT Towers to this day.
But more importantly, it sparked a chain of events that has seen England go from the lowest of the low to being one of the most feared teams in the world.
Roy Hodgson immediately resigned as Three Lions manager after the Iceland loss and Sam Allardyce was appointed in his place.
However, things got worse before they got better as Allardyce left his post having only managed the team for one match. His 67-day tenure as England boss came to a sudden end after a newspaper investigation claimed he offered advice on how to ‘get around’ rules on player transfers.
Gareth Southgate took charge of a side so bereft of confidence and one that had lost touch with the fans, but it’s safe to say the love for the England team has returned – and then some.
Despite all this unease about their form, they qualified for the 2018 World Cup easily, which proved to be one of England’s best tournaments in living memory.
Harry Kane was in red-hot form, England actually won a match on penalties, Southgate looked fly in his waistcoat, and THAT Kieran Tripper free-kick.
Faith was restored in the England national team as they almost found glory in Russia
The scenes in Blighty were something else too
The lads had a ball in Russia even though they narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
Back home, people were dancing in the streets and chanting ‘Football’s Coming Home’ in a magical summer where it just never seemed to rain.
Football didn’t quite come home but faith in the England team was well and truly restored.
England have gone from strength to strength since, beating Spain and Croatia to reach the semi-finals of the last Nations League in 2018/19.
England blitzed to a 3-0 lead when they won in Spain, the first time the Spaniards conceded three times in the first half of a competitive match
England then got the better of Croatia to win their tough Nations League group
April 2019 saw England rise to fourth in the FIFA rankings and they’ve stayed there since.
Although FIFA rankings should never be taken as gospel, it shows what excellent progress England have shown since losing to Iceland.
England were odds-on favourites to win Euro 2020 before COVID-19 delayed the tournament by a year, however, some bookies still view them as the main contenders to win it next summer.
So this Nations League clash in Reykjavik will be a formality, right? Most of us thought that four years ago and it is England after all…
England’s record under Gareth Southgate
Appointed: 2016
Games managed: 41
Games won: 24
Games drawn: 9
Games lost: 8
Goals scored: 87
Goals conceded: 32
Win percentage: 58.5
FIFA ranking when he took over: 12th
FIFA ranking now: 4th
41 matches in charge
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