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Kirsty Wigglesworth
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: England v Iceland, Euro 2016

With one more quarter-final place on offer, a meeting with hosts France on Sunday evening is the reward for the winner.

Good evening, folks. Welcome along to our liveblog for the final last-16 game at Euro 2016. England versus Iceland kicks off in Nice at the top of the hour (8pm) and we’ll keep you right up to date here throughout the game.

The big news regarding selection is that the return of Raheem Sterling to the England starting line-up is one of six changes from their draw against Slovakia…

England: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Rose, Alli, Dier, Rooney, Sturridge, Kane, Sterling.

Subs: Forster, Milner, Lallana, Vardy, Clyne, Henderson, Stones, Wilshere, Barkley, Bertrand, Rashford, Heaton.

Iceland: Halldorsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Skulason, Gudmundsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Gunnarsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson.

Subs: Kristinsson, Hauksson, Hermannsson, Ingason, Finnbogason, Sigurjonsson, Theodor Elmar Bjarnason, Magnusson, Hallfredsson, Traustason, Gudjohnsen, Jonsson.

The referee is Damir Skomina from Slovenia.

With some of the names on that Iceland team, go easy on me if a typo slips through the net at some stage, won’t ya?

The Stade de Nice is the venue for this game…

England v Iceland - UEFA Euro 2016 - Round of 16 - Stade de Nice PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

A quarter-final meeting with France in Saint-Denis on Sunday evening is on offer here. This is new territory for Iceland, of course, but England’s record in the knockout stages of the Euros is not good at all. Their only win came on penalties against Spain in ’96 so they’ve never actually won a European Championship knockout fixture over 90 minutes.

Here’s their overall record:

  • 2012: Italy 0-0 England (Italy win 4-2 pens) – Quarter-final
  • 2008: Did not qualify
  • 2004: Portugal 2-2 England (Portugal win 6-5 pens) – Quarter-final
  • 2000: Finish third in group
  • 1996: England 0-0 Spain (England win 4-2 pens) – Quarter-final; Germany 1-1 England (Germany win 6-5 pens) – Semi-final
  • 1992: Finish 4th in group
  • 1988: Finish 4th in group
  • 1984: Did not qualify
  • 1980: Finish 3rd in group
  • 1976: Did not qualify
  • 1972: Did not qualify
  • 1968: Lost semi-final 1-0 to Yugoslavia (only four teams in tournament)
  • 1964: Did not qualify
  • 1960: Did not qualify

It’s filling up at the Stade de Nice. Less than half an hour until kick-off…

England v Iceland - UEFA Euro 2016 - Round of 16 - Stade de Nice Jonathan Brady Jonathan Brady

It’s underway in Nice.

Sturridge shot from 25 yards out goes harmlessly wide.

Penalty! Sterling taken down by goalkeeper Halldorsson.

Goal! England 1 Iceland 0 (Rooney, 4)

Goal! England 1 Iceland 1 (Ragnar Sigurdsson, 6)

What a start to this game! Rooney put England ahead after Sterling had been taken down, but Iceland struck right back as Ragnar Sigurdsson tucked home from close range as a result of a long throw into the box.

England with all the possession at the moment as they seek to regain the lead but Iceland are holding firm.

Kane forces a corner for England…

Iceland clear it only for Alli to fire a belter of a half-volley just over.

Kane then shoots from just outside the box but it also clears the crossbar.

Goal! England 1 Iceland 2 (Sightorsson, 18)

Iceland lead against the run of play, Sightorsson tried to place it into the bottom corner and Hart got his hand to it but let it slip through. Incredible!

Rooney gave England an early lead from the spot…
https://vine.co/v/5uFlhOmJ0OT

…but Iceland equalised almost immediately thanks to Ragnar Sigurdsson…
https://vine.co/v/5uFYPi7xn2t

…and Sightorsson then gave them the lead…
https://vine.co/v/5uUuHV3AeaH

The population comparisons are inevitable so let’s get them out of the way off the bat…

Great volley by Kane from a Sturridge cross but it’s pushed away for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Sterling plays Rose in on the overlap but it’s saved again. Understandably, the Iceland fans seem to be having the time of their lives in Nice.

Alli goes down looking for a penalty but the ref is having none of it… because it was a ridiculous dive.

They’re in shock…

England v Iceland - UEFA Euro 2016 - Round of 16 - Stade de Nice Nick Potts Nick Potts

Iceland are horsing into the tackles. Defending like their lives depend on it. If England manage to come back to win this, they’ll be made to earn it.

Skulason’s shot from distance had Joe Hart worried but it was always drifting wide.

Rooney tries to bend one into the top corner but it goes well wide.

Gylfi Sigurdsson shoots from 25 yards out but it’s a comfortable save for Hart.

Iceland haven’t gotten forward very often but they look dangerous on the break whenever they do.

Here’s the scene back in Reykjavik…

Soccer Euro 2016 Iceland England AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Sturridge’s cross almost goes all the way in but Halldorsson manages to hold on to it.

Walker’s cross finds Rooney but he volleys into the ground and well off target.

Half-time: England 1 Iceland 2

England have 45 minutes to save their Euro 2016 campaign, or else they’ll be watching at home as Iceland take on France in Sunday’s quarter-final.

Here we go for the second half. England have 45 minutes to salvage their Euro 2016 campaign.

Jack Wilshere has been brought on in place of Eric Dier for England.

Any lotto numbers, Carlton?

Sterling cuts in from out wide and then gives the ball away… again.

England fans watching the game at the Hyundai FanDome in London…

Fans watch the England v Iceland match - Hyundai FanDome PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Ragnar Sigurdsson almost gets a spectacular second but his overhead kick is saved by Hart!

England have just over half an hour to break down the blue wall. It looks like Jamie Vardy is about to be introduced.

Vardy is on for Sterling.

England are owning the ball without creating many clear-cut chances. The clock is ticking…

Sigurdsson smashes the ball down the other end of the field as England continue to bomb forward.

Wilshere hits an optimistic half-volley from distance but it goes well wide. England are stumped for ideas here.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…

England v Iceland - UEFA Euro 2016 - Round of 16 - Stade de Nice PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Vardy played through by Kane but what an outstanding tackle by Ragnar Sigurdsson, who has been immense for Iceland.

Cross from the left by Rooney is far too heavy and it goes wide. He’s been poor so far tonight, squandering possession on countless occasions.

Will this be Roy Hodgson’s last game in charge of England?

Sixteen minutes remaining.

Sturridge crosses, Vardy gets his head on it but it’s easy for the goalkeeper.

Iceland on the attack but England survive as Skulason coughs up possession too easily.

Wilshere’s cross finds Kane but he heads it straight at the goalkeeper. Very good chance for England, as good as they’ve had.

England have been dreadful but they’ve still got 10 minutes to salvage something.

Tell us how you really feel, Neil…

“Someone’s got to show some ability,” says Glenn Hoddle on ITV. Yep, it’s been that bad.

Iceland almost get a third but Hart saves from Gunnarsson from close range.

Bodvarsson gets his head on the corner but it goes wide.

One last throw of the dice for England. Rooney’s off, Rashford’s on. Four minutes to go.

“Please dig us out of this hole, youngfella. Please!”

England v Iceland - UEFA Euro 2016 - Round of 16 - Stade de Nice Nick Potts Nick Potts

Great opportunity for England but Kane’s free-kick into the box is far too heavy and it goes out of play.

Excellent run by Rashford and he wins a corner.

Rashford takes it himself but England make nothing of it.

Three minutes to be added on.

Sturridge’s cross finds Vardy. It just misses the target but England have a corner.

It’s over! Iceland have done it. UNBELIEVABLE!

Full-time: England 1 Iceland 2

Iceland are going crazy while a chorus of boos rings out from the England fans.

Wow! What a result in Nice. Iceland go on to play France in the quarter-finals. England are heading home.

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