Euro 2016 Live: Latest - England 1 Iceland 2

England were on the brink of a humiliating Euro 2016 exit at half-time against Iceland, who came from behind in Nice to lead their last-16 clash 2-1.
England manager Roy Hodgson looks dejectedEngland manager Roy Hodgson looks dejected
England manager Roy Hodgson looks dejected

Captain Wayne Rooney gave the Three Lions the perfect start when he buried a third-minute penalty, but Iceland hit back almost immediately as Ragnar Sigurdsson finished a long-throw routine.

Joe Hart then allowed a saveable effort from Kolbeinn Sigthorsson to slip his grasp, putting tournament debutants Iceland in sight of their greatest ever result.

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The game began at a positively frenetic pace, England having enjoyed two promising breaks into the final third before winning a third-minute penalty.

Engand v IcelandEngand v Iceland
Engand v Iceland

Sterling’s first run of the game had been successfully halted by Birkir Saevarsson but he outstripped his man at the next attempt and charged directly at Hannes Halldorsson.

The goalkeeper flung himself at Sterling’s feet and took the man, leaving referee Damir Skomina with little option but award a penalty.

Rooney stepped up to take and drilled low and hard into the bottom corner.

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The England fans in the stadium, outnumbering the counterparts many times over, roared their approval and had barely stopped when their lead was extinguished.

Engand v IcelandEngand v Iceland
Engand v Iceland

Barely a minute had passed when Gunnarsson launched a long throw into the box, Kari Arnason won the first header and Rangar Sigurdsson converted from close-range.

England had been warned about the threat from throw-ins but reacted slowly when the moment arrived.

They did their best to reassert their advantage, Alli lashing just over from 20 yards after controlling a clearance on his chest and Kane off target from similar range.

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But it was Iceland who made it 2-1 with a silky passing move in the 18th minute.

Gylfi Sigurdsson showed poise and awareness to touch the ball off his instep to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, who in turn found Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.

He moved the ball out of his feet and finished from the edge of the area, Joe Hart seemingly getting down to make the save only for it to squirm through.

Hodgson gambled, possibly on his future, by throwing on Jack Wilshere at half-time and sacrificing his holding midfielder Dier.

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That left Wilshere as an extra playmaker in the deep but deprived England of a natural tackler in their midfield three.

Wilshere threw himself into the task, though, hurling his head towards Gylfi Sigurdsson’s boot to deny a shooting chance.

Sterling and Rooney continued their trend of gifting possession back to Iceland, the captain at one stage inexplicably rolling a square pass to the nearest blue shirt.

Iceland almost doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Ragnar Sigurdsson, still up from a corner, produced a textbook overhead kick from six yards.

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Hart had no reaction time but somehow kept his hand firm and parried the chance to safety.

Sterling, dire since winning the penalty, was off on the hour as Jamie Vardy added to the growing pool of strikers.

Kane, still the nominal number nine, was allowed to strike a promising free-kick but punted it hopelessly wide.

When Vardy was given a chance to sprint at the Iceland goal, from Kane’s pass, the superb Ragnar Sigurdsson responded with an expertly timed hook tackle.

mfl