England's nightmare not over, even with Hodgson's departure
A fearless, world-class tactician is required as manager, but they're thin on the ground
ROUND OF 16
ENGLAND 1
(Wayne Rooney 4-pen)
ICELAND 2
(Ragnar Sigurdsson 6, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson 18)
Even his most ardent supporters at the Football Association would have admitted to themselves that Roy Hodgson was out of his depth as a football manager, once the final whistle went at the Stade de Nice yesterday morning (Singapore time).
Four years after Hodgson's appointment as England boss, his men were turned into pussycats by tiny Iceland in the biggest upset of Euro 2016, and the most humiliating defeat in the history of the Three Lions.
England, far superior in personnel, simply couldn't match the sum of Iceland's parts on the pitch.
Despite taking an early lead through Wayne Rooney's penalty, they lost 2-1, after the heroic minnows responded in emphatic fashion with goals by Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
A distraught Hodgson, devoid of inspiration and ideas on how to turn the tide against the Icelanders, looked a lost man in the dugout.
With his head buried in his hands on occasion, his would be the lasting image of the most embarrassing defeat in England's history.
Ex-England striker Alan Shearer said it was "the worst performance I've ever seen from an England team".
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand described the display as "embarrassing".
MYSTERY
The biggest mystery in all of this is how England cannot seem to find the right man to fill the manager's post.
Hodgson's resignation in the immediate aftermath of the defeat was a formality - his four-year contract was set to expire at the end of the tournament.
Many thought his time should have been up two years earlier, when England crashed out in the group phase of the World Cup in Brazil.
But the FA's inability to take decisive action is not new.
Those who came before Hodgson - Fabio Capello, Steve McClaren, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Kevin Keegan - were also allowed to overstay their welcome.
The expensive investments on foreign talent Eriksson and Capello, and Hodgson - the highest-paid manager at Euro 2016, ahead of even Joachim Loew and Antonio Conte - have not reaped the desired returns.
From experience, England should realise by now that experience doesn't always pay.
It took Iceland to prove to them the extent of the team's incompetence on the big stage.
What they need is someone with the charisma to coax the side out of their shell, much like what Juergen Klopp has done with Liverpool.
In the case of Tottenham Hotspur, they found in Mauricio Pochettino a manager with the foresight to spot talent and the courage to blood them.
How England also wish they can find someone in the mould of Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone, who has a knack of blending fighting spirit and talent with a sound, effective game plan.
SUCCESSOR
The FA, who have been on the look-out for Hodgson's successor for several months, have already said that the job would not be restricted to only Englishmen.
Still, the field of candidates looks worryingly thin.
The former England defender and current Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate is the favourite.
He hardly makes a compelling case, taking into account the fact that Middlesbrough were relegated under his watch in 2009.
Sam Allardyce, Glenn Hoddle, Alan Shearer and Alan Pardew all look like a backward step.
Eddie Howe has youth and potential on his side but hasn't yet got the right credentials, while Gary Neville's Valencia nightmare is still fresh in the memory.
Jose Mourinho would have been a top choice from the foreign contingent, had he not already taken on the Manchester United job.
The names of Arsene Wenger, Juergen Klinsmann, Manuel Pellegrini, Rafael Benitez and Laurent Blanc have also been bandied about, but how realistic are the chances of them taking over England?
For England, it's been a terrible four years under Hodgson.
And the nightmare may not be over even with his departure.
BY THE NUMBERS
58.9%
Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson oversaw 33 wins in 56 games, giving him a win percentage of 58.9 per cent.
He fits their remit, he has been with the Under-21s, he has been around the squad, so I would back Gareth Southgate. But I would also look at getting experience around him like Glenn Hoddle. Glenn was brilliant as a coach for England. He has got so much to offer and is still young enough, so I would totally back Gareth and Glenn.
— Former England striker Alan Shearer, calling for a double act of Gareth Southgate and Glenn Hoddle to succeed Roy Hodgson in leading England
Let’s be honest, I haven’t got a cat in hell’s chance of getting it because I don’t fit the FA’s remit. I haven’t got the experience, which I don’t believe is right. I haven’t got the coaching badges, which I don’t believe is right, and that is my honest opinion. I spoke to the FA a few years ago and got my answer but, if they want to speak to me, then of course I would.
— Shearer, on his own chances
Glenn is your man. Why is Gareth the favourite and more suited? I think we have got the perfect man — Glenn fits the bill. He said something, but that was a long time ago. He deserves another chance.
— Harry Redknapp, believing Hoddle (below) is “perfect” for the job
England fans mock their team online
Here are just a couple of the many humorous memes circulating on the Internet...
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THE CONTENDERS
England's humiliating 2-1 defeat by Iceland yesterday morning (Singaproe time) saw Roy Hodgson step down as manager. Who will the Football Association choose to replace him? PA Sport looks at some leading contenders.
GARETH SOUTHGATE
Highly rated by the decision-makers at the FA, the former Middlesbrough boss was brought into the fold to coach the Under-21s with an eye on future progression.
Faltered at last year's Under-21 European Championship, but led the team to victory at the Toulon tournament just weeks ago.
EDDIE HOWE
A smart, erudite and tactically savvy coach who, at 38, looks to have a bright future at the top of the game.
The FA must surely be monitoring the Bournemouth boss, although it may want to see him move to a bigger club before handing him the reins of the national side.
ARSENE WENGER
Seeing the cultured, technically minded Frenchman with Anglophile tendencies oversee a Three Lions revolution is a highly attractive option.
After 20 years with Arsenal, might he finally be persuaded to seek a new challenge?
RAFAEL BENITEZ
Another foreign candidate but, like Wenger, the Spaniard is well versed in all things English.
After stints with Liverpool, Chelsea and now Newcastle, he qualifies as suitably "assimilated" in the way Fabio Capello was not. Was not hurt by Newcastle's relegation, almost doing enough to avert it, and would surely fancy the job.
ALAN PARDEW
Seemed to be a new man after swopping Newcastle for Crystal Palace and some fine early-season results saw him seriously linked with the England job for the first time in his career.
But results tailed off badly as the campaign progressed and the window of opportunity may be closing.
SAM ALLARDYCE
Has always coveted the post and spoken confidently about the qualities he would bring to it.
Keeping Sunderland in the Premier League last term was another impressive achievement on his CV, but he may be viewed as a retrograde appointment.
GARY NEVILLE
Seemed a heavy favourite to progress from his role as Hodgson's assistant until his ill-advised stint with Valencia saw his stock plummet.
It may yet be decided that that was a case of the wrong job but the right man and, although his involvement in the current set-up gives him a link to the squad, the fact he stepped down along with Hodgson may rule him out.
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