BE careful what you wish for. England voted to go out of Europe last Thursday, and now they are, at least in football terms after last night's 2-1 defeat to Iceland. No-one, but no-one, really thought the tournament outsiders would put Roy Hodgson's side of Euro 2016, and certainly not in such a humiliating fashion.

But let’s make it clear, Iceland deserved their win. England were utterly dreadful, and for their disorganisation their manager Hodgson deserved the jotters he pre-empted by resigning straight after the game.

Hogson rang the changes again, six of them this time, with Wayne Rooney starting and thus equalling David Beckham’s record of 115 caps for an outfield player. The biggest surprise was the recall of Raheem Sterling as a wide player in the front three. Iceland were unchanged and stuck to their rigid 4-4-2 formation.

The match had an opening as unbelievable as the outcome of the EU referendum with both teams scoring inside the first five minutes before Iceland went on to take the lead inside 18 minutes. England hadn’t scored a goal in the first half during the tournament but when Daniel Sturridge lofted a ball towards goal in the fourth minute, Sterling showed electric pace and beat Hannes Thord Halldorsson to the ball.

The goalkeeper brought him down for a clear penalty which did not lead to a red card as there was cover in the goal. Rooney stepped up and smacked the ball low into the corner to extend his all-time top scorer record for his country to 53, and England had the breakthrough they craved. Surely Iceland would have to attack now, which would expose them at the back.

Iceland hadn’t read that script. They kept their defensive shape but also went upfield and equalised inside 90 seconds. Everyone in world football knows about Aron Gunnarsson’s long-range throw-ins which are such a feature of Cardiff City and Iceland’s attacks. Everyone, that is, except the England defence.

Gunnarsson’s throw and Kari Arnason’s flick on caught Kyle Walker out of position, and defender and man of the match Ragnar Sigurdsson scored in the style of a class striker.

England almost went ahead again with Dele Alli volleying just over the bar, before Iceland scored a second. Joe Hart had been blamed for failing to halt Gareth Bale’s free-kick in the match against Wales when his left hand proved weak, and it happened again in the 18th minute in Nice after Gunarsson’s long throw was cleared only for Iceland to regather and charge forward, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s shot being of the speculative variety until Hart flapped at the ball and helped it over the line.

The English players looked totally stunned at the reversal of fortunes. Though they had the most possession by far, both teams had chances. On 27 minutes, Alli sent Sturridge clear on the right and his deep cross was met on the volley by Harry Kane, Halldorsson rising to punch the ball over. At the other end, full-back Ari Freyr Skulason shot from distance but the ball was just wide.

England were on top for long periods thereafter, and Kane’s free-kick to the far post found Chris Smalling but his header was misdirected over. Rooney ended the half with a snapshot that he just couldn’t control, the ball flying high over the bar. Hodgson made one half-time change, sending on Jack Wilshere for the ineffective Eric Dier. Iceland had clearly decided at half-time to just keep things going, and it became clear as the second half wore on that they were not going to park the bus.

Indeed the first real chance of the half fell to goalscorer Sigurdsson when a corner was half-cleared, his acrobatic bicycle kick going too close to Hart who batted it away.

England were becoming all too predictable as the hour mark approached, and Iceland dealt with their attacks comfortably. An admission of failure was the replacement of Sterling with Jamie Vardy, though it should have been Rooney who was taken off as he was having a dreadful night.

It took until the 70th minute for England to carve out a real chance, Alli playing Jamie Vardy through before Ragnar Sigurdsson’s last-ditch tackle robbed the Leicester City striker. At the other end, Johann Berg Gudmundsson got free and blasted his shot over.

By now it was desperate stuff by England, exemplified by Kane’s pathetic header straight to Halldorsson off a fine cross from Wilshere. Iceland captain Gunnarsson had a clear chance to end England’s agony when he got clear of Wilshere only for Hart to save his goalbound shot, Kari Arnason heading the corner two yards wide. Hodgson eventually accepted the inevitable and replaced the totally out-of-form Rooney with Marcus Rashford with less than five minutes to play. But Iceland held on for an extraordinary win. Not a few Scots will say “skal” to them.