England vs Iceland: Gary Lineker labels Euro 2016 loss 'the worst in our history' while Alan Shearer wants England job

Lineker was one of a number of former England internationals who slammed the national team while the subject of replacing Roy Hodgson, who has resigned, was also a topic of hot debate

Gary Lineker labelled England’s shocking 2-1 defeat by Iceland as “the worst defeat in our history” as Roy Hodgson’s side crashed out of Euro 2016, prompting the manager to resign minutes after the full-time whistle.

Playing a country which boasts a population of little over 320,000 people, England were expected to cruise past Iceland and set-up a Euro 2016 quarter-final clash against tournament hosts France, but it wasn’t to be.

England’s early lead through a Wayne Rooney penalty was immediately cancelled out by Ragnar Sigurdsson, with the defence failing to deal with a trademark Icelandic long throw, and just 12 minutes later the so-called minnows were in front through Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's shot that threaded its way under Joe Hart’s arm and across the line.

Lineker was one of many ex-pros who launched a scathing attack on England and, in particular, Hodgson for what has been a complete lack of tactical awareness and ability to make key decisions to influence a game.

“The worst defeat in our history,” Lineker wrote on Twitter after the match. “England beaten by a country with more volcanoes than professional footballers. Well played Iceland.

“Roy Hodgson resigns as England manager. A decent and dignified man but will forever be remembered for losing to tiny Iceland.”

Lineker added: “Can't wait to do the f***ing highlights show!”

A number of other former England internationals, including Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Lee Dixon, laid into Hodgson’s decision-making as England manager, and also touched on who should replace him at the helm of the national team.

Shearer revealed that he spoke to the Football Association a number of years ago about taking the job but the former striker was firmly rejected, and he stressed that he would still be keen to take on the role if the FA deemed him the right man for the job.

Shearer told BBC1: "I went to see the FA four or five years ago and I said, 'I want it, I'll have that job'.

"They looked at me and said, 'No, it's a lack of experience'. And I said, 'You've hired experienced guys, you've paid them an absolute fortune, I could not have done any worse than those guys'.

"I'd definitely speak to them, absolutely. I would offer my experience and tournament experience.

"Even if Gareth Southgate got it, for him to take players in with experience who've been there and done it then that has to be of benefit also."

Meanwhile, Ferdinand highlighted the appeal of the job, adding: "There's not a person out there who would say no. Anyone worth their worth their weight in gold..."

Fellow former England internationals Ian Wright, Dixon and Peter Crouch believe Hodgson's decision to resign as manager was the right one.

Dixon told ITV: "He's done the right thing. From his point of view, but also the team's point of view. He couldn't have taken the team any further.

"He's a lovely guy, honourable. (But) from a coaching point of view, there were glaring errors there from the set-pieces, etc, which weren't taken care of.

"It was just abject. There was no organisation, there was no speed, the organisation of letting a goal in from a throw-in: there was little attention to detail."

England player react to their Euro 2016 defeat by Iceland (AFP/Getty)

Wright added: "It was an abject performance from the boys, but the preparation in what Iceland do was pretty obvious. We were found wanting in that respect.

"(Hodgson) said 'They've been fantastic', which is a nice thing to say, but they've not been fantastic.

"I'd go with Gareth Southgate, what he's done for the England Under-21s.

"We've done the foreign manager (route), and as good as they've been in previous jobs, they've done nothing for us."

Roy Hodgson announced his departure straight after the match (Getty)

Crouch said: "Hopefully people will start talking about him (Hodgson) leaving rather than the performance, and I think that's why he came in and did it so early.

"I don't think there's a fundamental fault (with English players), I think it boils down to pressure."

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle said: "I'm not surprised. He did it with dignity. It's the right timing, with his contract coming to an end, and the way we played in this game.

"It was very lacklustre, there was no movement, not enough options on the ball. Iceland deserved their win."

Wayne Rooney said Hodgson addressed the players to tell them he was leaving (Getty) (GETTY)

Another former Three Lions boss, Steve McClaren, told Sky Sports News: "They've not been good enough tonight, not at all.

"The repercussions of this are going to be absolutely enormous."

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher struggled to remember as poor a display from the national side.

Gareth Southgate is the current favourite to replace Hodgson (Reuters)

He said on Sky Sports News: "It was a shambolic performance, especially second half. Obviously it didn't go right for us in the first half - that's where the mistakes were for the two goals.

"But for the group of players to not have any sort of clue what to do on the pitch in that situation, to completely panic, we didn't have too many chances, people were doing stupid things with the ball...I don't think I can remember a game as bad as that."

Former England winger Chris Waddle told BBC Radio Five Live: "We haven't got leaders. They're all pampered, they're all just headphones, they don't communicate, on the pitch or off the pitch, you can't get anything out of them. That's why we're no good."

Rooney's penalty gave England an early lead (Getty)

On Hodgson's successor, ex-England striker Alan Smith told Sky Sports News: "I don't think there's an obvious candidate and that's a problem for the FA as I don't think they want to go down the road of a foreign manager again and I don't want them to.

"The talk of Gareth Southgate taking over maybe, whether that would be long-term or short-term I don't know. There's not anybody out there that would fit the bill.

Iceland scored twice in 12 minutes to turn the game on its head (Getty)

"I think there are only three or four English managers in the Premier League with Sean Dyche coming up to join the other three so it's a big problem for the FA."

Peter Reid added: "The FA have got a structure in place and if Gareth Southgate doesn't get it, I don't know what the structure is for."

Additional reporting by PA