The fall out from England’s Euro 16 exit has shown no signs of abating with reports tonight that Gareth Southgate has rejected the opportunity to take over on a caretaker basis.
Losing to Iceland came as a big enough shock but Roy Hodgson’s rapid resignation has rubbed salt into wounds attempting to come to terms with a result that has struck deep into the footballing nation.
With Wales and Iceland looking forward to playing for a semi-final place there is no hiding place with everyone from the board of the FA downwards in the firing line.
Southgate was the bookies favourite to take charge due largely to the lack of candidates with the return of Glen Hoddle drawing increasing support.
Hodgson’s image has been decimated in the aftermath of the Iceland defeat with the former Fulham and Liverpool uncomfortable under the spotlight.
“I was anxious to make certain that no one in this room could accuse me of being worried or afraid to face the media,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s necessary. I don’t think I have anything to say to you any different to what you know already or what you have written already but I wasn’t forced to come here. I did so because I have never shirked a press conference. I have never run away from anybody. I have answered questions for four years.
“People are smarting from the defeat last night that saw us leave the tournament. I suppose someone has to stand and take the slings and arrows that come with it.
“My emotions are obvious ones. I am really disappointed. I didn’t see the defeat coming. Nothing in the first three games here gave me any indication that we would play as poorly as we did.
“Unfortunately, they are one-off events. If one of those one-off events you don’t turn up, even an opponent that are not entirely fancied like Iceland can beat you. That is what happened.
“I am still recovering from that. I am still fragile. It wasn’t a good night, for anybody, because we wanted to stay in this tournament and do well. We believed if we could get to the quarter-final we would go beyond that. We go home as losers and we retain that wretched record of losing a tournament in the knockout stages.”
