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'This will be a day we'll talk about for the rest of our lives'

Coaches Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson and centre-back Ragnar Sigurdsson reflect on Iceland's stunning elimination of England, whose manager resigned after the 2-1 last-16 defeat.

The Iceland players celebrate with their supporters at Stade de Nice
The Iceland players celebrate with their supporters at Stade de Nice ©Panoramic

Lars Lagerbäck, Iceland coach
It's a great victory but, as you know, coaching is not the easiest. One of the reasons I'm sitting here is thanks to Roy Hodgson and Bob Houghton. I would like to express my respect for them.

It was a team performance. We're really doing well defensively – everyone is well organised, doing their jobs and reading the game. The attacking part was also really good. Football is about winning and scoring as many goals as you can. This team has really shown what it can do.

The result can influence their football lives because some of the players deserve contracts at higher levels than they are now.


Heimir Hallgrímsson, Iceland joint coach
The boys on the pitch were fantastic, but the fans were amazing. I could hear them above the England supporters.

We have improved in terms of retaining possession and this was probably our best game. Defensively we didn't have too much problem with England and we created a few chances. We still haven't shown what we can do and hopefully our best game is still to come.

Kári Árnason: 'We've shocked the world'

If we prepare well and the players perform with the same attitude as today we can beat anybody. With this win they'll believe more in themselves.

The equaliser was the key moment. Answering right back had more of an effect on England than their goal did on us. Their plan was to shut us off from the beginning and they probably thought they did that. If we hadn't done that, I don't know how the game would have panned out. Psychologically it was very important.

The boys were ready today, for this opportunity that was put in our hands. This will be a day we'll talk about for the rest of our lives.

Ragnar Sigurdsson, Iceland defender and man of the match
We don't feel as though they created many chances. We headed a lot of balls away and they had many shots from distance. I wasn't really stressed in the second half, apart from the last few minutes.

Hannes Halldórsson on 'epic and unbelievable' win

It's the second or third goal we've scored from a long throw. That's one of weapons, so it's no surprise. They thought this would be a walk in the park. They started very well and with great power, but they were shocked by the equaliser and the 2-1 goal. They panicked, though they're a good team. As you know, it's difficult to score goals against Iceland.


Roy Hodgson, outgoing England manager
I am extremely disappointed about tonight's result and ultimately our exit from the competition. We haven't progressed as far as I thought we were capable of and ultimately it is not acceptable.

Hodgson resigns as England coach

I am proud of the work my coaching staff and I have done during our time at the helm of England. The transition from a squad whose average age was 30 to now being the youngest in the tournament is remarkable and exciting for the future of English football.

I'd have loved to stay on for another two years. However, I am pragmatic and know we are in the results business. My contract was always up after the EUROs so now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of this young, hungry and extremely talented group.