Euro 2016: 'To be facing England is a little special for us,' says Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen

The former Chelsea striker reveals Frank Lampard texted him after it was revealed Iceland would meet England in the second round

Eider Gudjohnsen speaks with the media ahead of facing England (Getty)

Eidur Gudjohnsen is only three months older than Frank Lampard, but while the latter is enduring a difficult, if lucrative, spell in semi-retirement in New York his former Chelsea team-mate is at Euro 2016, preparing to play England.

So the Icelandic international was a bit non-plussed at Lampard’s reaction to their two countries playing each other in Nice on Monday

Gudjohnsen, who will join Lampard as a 38-year-old in September, said: “Frank Lampard sent me a text laughing at the fact we are facing England, in what sense I’m not sure.”

Gudjohnsen is playing even less in France than injury-hit Lampard for New York City FC, but his experience means he has an important role in an squad breaking new ground.

This was highlighted this week when, during a team meeting at the team’s hotel overlooking Lake Annecy, Gudjohnsen told his teammates not to settle for what they had already achieved.

“I asked the players and myself if we were happy and had reached our goal, or do we have more in us to go further? Can we find within ourselves to give more effort, bring even more energy into the games, to go even further? That’s our challenge.”

During a peripatetic career which has taken him to eight countries outside his native Iceland Gudjohnsen played for five English clubs and he said: “To be facing England is a little special for us. English football has had a huge influence, from when we grew up, everyone has supported a team in English football, we feel a big connection to England in footballing terms.

“There’s two clubs in England have been more to me than just football clubs - Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea. They are not just ex-clubs, they are clubs that I have feelings for, love for because of my time there.” Yet he inisisted: “The excitement lies more in the fact we are in the last 16 than who we are facing.”

Lampard’s text seems to underscore English confidence but Gudjohnsen cautioned: “In football anything is possible. We're realistic, we know we're the underdog, but we've shown why we're here.” However, he added: “I’m a little bit afraid that England have got their best game still to come.”